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Aileen Pugliese Castro, MAT

  • Senior Lecturer, Art Education

Contact information

Biography

Aileen Pugliese Castro is a Senior Lecturer and BFA Specialization Program Coordinator in Art Education at Concordia University. Her research explores children's learning, from material exploration to a young child's imagination. She focused on how teachers use picture books to inspire young children and how illustrators sustain their imagination as they mature. She is an exhibiting watercolour painter. Aileen has over 28 years of experience teaching young artists (preschool and elementary) and higher education throughout North America. She has taught at McGill University, the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign, the University of British Columbia, Howard County Public School System in Maryland, and Maryland Institute College of Art. Aileen got her BFA and MAT from the Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA), Baltimore, Maryland, USA.

Education

BFA, MAT, Maryland Institute College of Art

Teaching activities

Courses Taught at Concordia

ARTE 220: Foundations of Art Education
ARTE 230: Observation and Analysis of Children’s Learning, Elementary Internship Component
ARTE 420: Art Education for Elementary School, Seminar
ARTE 421: Practicum in the Elementary School, Internship Supervision
ARTE 434: Professional Practice for Art Teachers, Practicum: Preschool Internship Component
ARTE 201: Art in Early Childhood

Teaching Awards

2022 President's Excellence in Teaching Award – Concordia University
2021 Distinguished Teaching Award, Faculty of Fine Arts – Concordia University

Selected publications

Castro, A.P. (2021, February). Mondrian with a Curve. SchoolArts Magazine, 120(6), 32-33,45.
Castro, A.P. (2020). Early Childhood, Fish Bowl Prints (50-53, front cover). SchoolArts Magazine Collection. Davis Publications, Inc. Worcester, Mass.
Castro, A.P. (2020). Early Childhood, Nature made, Taking art outside. (20-23, back cover). SchoolArts Magazine Collection. Davis Publications, Inc. Worcester, Mass.
Castro, A.P. (2019, February). Engaging with Everyday Objects. SchoolArts Magazine, 118(6), 30-31.
Castro, J.C., Emme, M. & Castro, A.P. (2018). Digital technology: Material learning and elementary art education. In K. Grauer, R. Irwin & M. Emme (Eds.), stARTing with... (4th ed., pp. 212-219). Victoria, B.C.: Canadian Society for Education through Art.
Castro, A.P. & Castro, J.C. (2018). Making meaning with holiday crafts. In K. Grauer, R. Irwin & M. Emme (Eds.), stARTing with... (4th ed., pp. 142-149). Victoria, B.C.: Canadian Society for Education through Art.
Castro, A.P. (2018, January). Shadows on Snow. SchoolArts Magazine, 117(5), 34-35,42.
Castro, A.P. (2017, October). Autumn Trees. SchoolArts Magazine, 117(2), 42-43.
Castro, J.C. & Castro, A.P. (2017, Summer). Connecting artistic practice and pedagogy. SchoolArts Magazine, 116(10), 8,42.
Castro, A.P. (2014, December). Sculpture without a Kiln. SchoolArts Magazine, 114(4), 20-21.
Castro, A.P. (2012). How am I like a tree? In L. Campbell & S. Simmons (Eds.), The heart of art education: Essays on holistic human development and integration (pp. 292-286). Reston, VA National Art Education Association.
Castro, A.P. (2011, May/June). Collaborating with Forms in Nature. SchoolArts Magazine, 110(9), Cover, 22-23.

Artistic performances

Selected Artist Exhibitions

2020-2022    In and Out of Life, Taken from my Garden; ARTEspace, Solo Exhibition, Concordia University; Montreal, QC Canada.
2020-2021    “What is Art For?” Collaborative project curated by Kathleen Vaughn. http://re-imagine.ca/what-is-art-for/honouring-nature/aileen-pugliese-castro/
2019-2020     Art Education Faculty Exhibition; ARTEspace, Group Exhibition, Concordia University; Montreal, QC Canada.
2018-2019    Art Education Faculty Exhibition; ARTEspace, Group Exhibition, Concordia University; Montreal, QC Canada.
2017     Seeing Colour Anew: Group Exhibition; ARTEspace, Concordia University; Montreal, QC Canada.

Participation activities

Selected Presentations

2020    “Seeing beyond what we see”: The role picture book illustrators play in the development of a child’s imagination. Invited Keynote ICOAH Conference: Imagination and Freedom. Bangkok, Thailand. Virtual.
2020    Picture Books: Imagining its possibilities. Invited Workshop ICOAH Conference: Imagination and Freedom. Bangkok, Thailand. Virtual.
2019    Picture Books in the Art Classrooms: Imagining its possibilities;  Presentation at the InSEA International Convention; Vancouver, BC, Canada.
2019    Peer Learning Network to Document Learning;  Presentation at the InSEA International Convention; Vancouver, BC, Canada.
2018    Connecting Artistic Practice with Classroom Pedagogy; Presentation at the NAEA National Convention; Seattle, WA, USA.
2017    Young Artists Choice Making; Presentation at the NAEA National Convention; New York, NY, USA.
2015    Encouraging Choice Making for Young Artists; Presentation at the NAEA National Convention; New Orleans, LA, USA.
2014    Mixed Media Sculpture, No Kiln Required; Presentation at the NAEA National Convention; San Diego, CA, USA.
2014    Using Social Media to Document and Share Student Learning; Presentation at the NAEA National Convention; San Diego, CA, USA.
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