Jolene Castanon

Jolene Castanon was born Santa Fe, New Mexico. She went to college at NMSU in 2007 where she received her BFA in Metalsmithing and Jewelry. She moved to Dallas after college where she became a studio assistant for two contemporary metalsmiths in the DFW area. Jolene decided to pursue teaching and got her alternative teaching license, after which she became an elementary art teacher at a charter school in South Dallas. She enjoys working with children and tries to inspire them every day. Jolene believes that creativity is important to our vitality, and she tries to instill and nurture that in each one of her students. She became engulfed in teaching when she first started in 2017 and it was only through the pandemic that she had time to invest in herself and her own artistic practices. She got back in the studio last March and is now having a hard time finding her way out these days. Jolene is grateful for the time that she has been given to develop herself and her skills and to finally get back in touch with her creative voice.