We recently connected with Jolene Castañon and have shared our conversation below.
Jolene , looking forward to learning from your journey. You’ve got an amazing story and before we dive into that, let’s start with an important building block. Where do you get your work ethic from?
I get my work ethic from my family. Both my parents are such hard workers and have continuously expressed how important it is to do your best in everything you do, to be true to yourself, to be kind and that I am capable of anything I want in this world. They taught me to never be afraid to work, to put in the time and effort and something great will come out of it.
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
My name is Jolene Castañon, I was born and raised in Northern New Mexico. I am in love with the culture and the mountains that I come from. I went to College at New Mexico State University in Las Cruces NM and received my B.F.A. in Metalsmithing and Jewelry.
I moved to Dallas after college where I became a studio assistant for two contemporary Metalsmithings in the DFW area Kat and Tamar. I learned a lot about productivity and professional work ethic from them. Both Ladies had such different approaches to the field and I enjoyed my time with them, learning from them and growing with them. To be taken into another artists creative process is such a powerful thing, I am grateful everyday for those opportunities, those lessons and that guidance.
During my assistantships I decided to pursue teaching and got my alternative teaching license which led me to becoming an elementary Art teacher in south Dallas. The work load was heavy and I had to stop working with Kat and Tamar which was a very hard crossroads for me, I went to school to be a metalsmith and here I was giving it up to become a teacher. Looking back I can say that it was for the best but I was resentful and unsure of my choices during that time.
Teaching was hard, rough, lonely and not what I wanted to do, or at least that was my impression of my first year. As time went on and I opened myself up to the opportunity I found a tribe of teachers who helped me grow into the educator that I am today through feedback and laughter, I fell in love with the students and my roll as their creativity facilitator and I had the time of my life. Teaching was still rough but it was also empowering and I learned so much about communicating with others, validating an others creative expression, and wanting to be better at something I never wanted to do in the first place. Growth comes in all shapes and sizes and we can be mad about it or we can jump in and get better and learn something new.
Around the time that I stopped working with my metalsmiths and started teaching, I stopped making jewelry. I put my creative practice on the back burner and blamed it on lack of time.
Then covid hit and teaching changed, we went from a 50 hr in person work week to 5 hour asynchronous learning experience per week. I had so much time on my hands there was no reason for me not to make or get in touch with my own creativity. I found my way back into the studio and it was rocky at first I was making things I didn’t like and it was not an enjoyable experience but then something amazing happened, I started exploring and playing with materials and using the skills and tools that Kat and Tamar taught me in addition to the build up of creative energy and ideas, I found my creative voice. Then I couldn’t stop. once school righted itself again I made it a priority to only stay during my contracted hours and give myself the freedom to use my energy and time how I saw fit, on my self and my creative practice.
Life has taken me for a ride no doubt about that but I am so grateful for the opportunities that have come my way and that I continue to see opportunity everywhere I go.
Present day I am a High School art teacher in North Dallas and have a lovely job of mentoring young adults as they investigate and develop their creative thinking and creative problem solving skills. I teach Jewelry Classes at the wonderful and amazing Dallas Markerspace which is one of the largest Non Profit makerspace in the U.S. and such a beautiful community of makers/ teachers and explorers. I also travel the states with my partner selling my jewelry at Art shows around the country.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
Looking back I think that the qualities that were most beneficial to my journey was the want to grow and be better, opening myself up to all the opportunities that came my way, and allowing myself to be a priority in my own schedule.
I think that if you want a change in your life, what ever that maybe it is important to surround yourself with people who facilitate that change in their own life. Find people who aren’t going to listen to your excuses and instead challenge you to be better. Also stop listening to your own excuses and challenge your own self to be better.
Read books on anything and everything you want to grow in, whether that is business, relationships, communication or self development. If you aren’t a reader then listen to them on the way to work. Learn every chance you get from every experience that you have.
Get better at taking feedback, you can take things personally or you can remove the emotion and listen to what advise is being given and grow.
Celebrate your wins, however small or large they may be, celebrate yourself.
Who has been most helpful in helping you overcome challenges or build and develop the essential skills, qualities or knowledge you needed to be successful?
I am grateful for everyone in my life that has been the deliverer of a harsh reality, of the people who don’t sugar coat their delivery for the sake of my feelings but are trying to be honest to help me be better, who call me out when I am not looking at the whole picture or being lazy. The people who are willing to have tough conversations with me so I can gain the knowledge I need to keep moving forward and who answer all my crazy questions with honesty and humility. I have the privilege of being related to such people who challenge me to see my circumstances differently, whether or not I want to hear it.
I am also thankful for the teachers in my life who showed me a reason to want to be better, to change the way I talk about myself and my future, who showed me a different way to experience the world and who challenged me to actually become a life long learner.
I appreciate the Artists in my life who shared their knowledge of the field, their experiences and continuous support with me so that my journey hit a little different. Thank you
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.jolenecastanonjewelry.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jolenecastanon/
Image Credits
Nick Gialanella
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