THERE ARE ARTISTS AMONG US

THERE ARE ARTISTS AMONG US was the very first event by Illo held on December 7th, 2018. It was the first event Castillo had ever planned, curated, and hosted through its finish. Additionally, it was the first showcase coordinated during Castillo’s time with his college’s student government. It was also the first time he premiered new music for a large audience before their official release dates, including MOON and SLEEP.

The event started with a cocktail hour for creators to network. It transitioned into a silent section; guests were not permitted to talk or make any noise whatsoever for 30 minutes while visual artists selected by Castillo came out of the audience by surprise to stand beside their photography, drawings, and paintings. They were kept anonymous through mysterious white masks covering their faces. Guests were encouraged to walk around and observe the pieces on display. After, the artists were invited to the stage to all take their masks off at the same time. The 30 minute silence was broken by applause for the artists’ reveal, and the event transitioned into a showcase by musicians, poets, and actors. The night ended with a feature from Cast, performing MOON and FAST FORWARD.

THERE ARE ARTISTS AMONG US served as an inspiration for future events, including Great Artists Steal, Tabula Rasa, and Kaleidospace.

All flyers and designs by Joshua Castillo.