Profiles, villages, and island life
Richard “Ric” Castro (1961 – ) , a Chamorro artist born to Juan and Magdalena LG Castro of Yigo, is a Professor of Art at the University of Guam, teaching at the Mangilao campus since the 1990s. Castro, the third youngest of nine children, was raised on his family beach, Jinapsan, in the north of Guam. He is known primarily for his paintings but also does printmaking and stone-carving.
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Ronald “Ron” J. Castro (1954 – ) is an artist known for his graphic design talents as well as his altruistic endeavors assisting several non-profit and volunteer organizations for civic causes.
Joaquin Flores Lujan (1920-2015), commonly known as “Tun Jack” and “Kin Bitud” to family and friends, is part of a legacy of more than 100 years of CHamoru blacksmiths.
Julie “Jill” Quichocho Benavente (1958 – ) is a traditional and contemporary Chamorro body ornamentation artist. Benavente carves fine jewelry from local materials such as hima (Tridacna or giant clam), Spondylus (thorny oysters), stone, cow bone, wild boar tusks, and more. Benavente has been creating and carving since the 1990s.
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Peter R. Onedera (1953 – ) is a playwright, author and poet, a master storyteller and a Chamorro language educator. Onedera was raised in the village of Sinajana. He received his Master of Arts degree from the University of Guam, writing his thesis entirely in Chamorro.
Multimedia photojournalist Manny Crisostomo (1958 – ) is a native of Guam and is perhaps best known on the island for his stunning photographs documenting the lives and culture of the Chamorro people. His keen eye and extensive photography work for almost 30 years have won him numerous awards and accolades, including the Pulitzer Prize in feature photography, which he was awarded in 1989.
Vincent J.C. Reyes, a Master of CHamoru dance, serves as Director of the Inetnon Gefpå’go Cultural Arts Program. Reyes, the son of Vicente (Ben) T. Reyes and Frances C. Sablan, was born and raised in the village of Malesso in southern Guam. He describes himself as growing up in a very CHamoru-Americanized family of the 1970s and 1980s.
Ariel Perez Dimalanta is a commercial artist who began his career on Guam in the 1970s and has since won several awards for his commercial graphic art designs for businesses and organizations on Guam.
Greg Borja Flores (1958 – 2010) was a master artist who was well known locally as a muralist, airbrush artist, caricaturist, political satirist and businessman.
Evelyn Flores, a professor of English at the University of Guam, is best known as the author of The Island Cousins Series, 3 books that explore issues of Chamorro identity. They are called Dolphin Day, Isa’s Avocado Tree and The Duendes Hunter. Her cousin, Vivian Lujan Bryan, is the illustrator.
