Alain Castor-iano
Alain Castoriano stepped into Wikipedia with a quiet sense of fear of "not being able to be precise enough," a nagging concern. As an artist, accustomed to expressing emotion and fluidity, he feared that the encyclopedia’s rigorous structure would stifle his ability to articulate complex ideas. But his perspective would soon evolve.
At the heart of Alain's early hesitations was the question of objectivity. What is neutrality? What does it mean to write without bias? "No feelings, just verified facts," said Alain. He realized quickly that Wikipedia's standard of neutrality was not about suppressing creativity, but rather about ensuring that the information shared is accurate and fair. He also grappled with verifiability. "It’s not enough to know something," he learned. "You need to show where it comes from." Facts must be rooted in reliable sources, and for Alain, this was eye-opening.
“It’s not enough to know something. You need to show where it comes from.”
Can you write about yourself? "Too long of a story," he wrote, understanding now the conflict of interest policies that guide autobiographical writing on the platform. It was yet another way that Wikipedia's processes felt foreign, but also refreshing, as they forced him to approach information from an objective distance.
Learning to edit was a different story. "It feels much more accessible," Alain shared, surprised by the ease of the platform once you understood the rules. His first articles were personal to him. "I worked on The Bakehouse Art Complex, where I added citations to names, and Mati Klarwein’s biography, adding a couple of comments." These were spaces he knew intimately, and contributing to their documentation felt like leaving a trace of himself without letting it be about him. The process was precise, factual, and satisfying in its structure.
The most important thing Alain learned? "Understanding how it works. Now I understand that it is practically all about research." That research-focused approach grounded his contributions, and his initial fears about not being “precise enough” began to dissolve. Wikipedia, in its methodical way, began to mirror parts of his creative process—the need to gather, structure, and document—but with less emotion and more clarity.
“Understanding how it works. Now I understand that Wikipedia is practically all about research.””
Reflecting on what he initially thought, Alain said, "I used to think Wiki was for specialists." That notion was completely debunked. Wikipedia wasn’t only for experts—it was for anyone willing to follow the guidelines, put in the research, and contribute factually.
"How is Wikipedia like your art?" The question seemed to stump Alain. "Actually, it doesn’t compare to my art process," he admitted. "But I use it a lot to know more about certain artists and art movements." While the processes of creating art and editing Wikipedia were vastly different for him, the outcome—a contribution to a larger cultural conversation—was similar. Wikipedia was, as Alain put it, "an organic encyclopedia," constantly evolving, absorbing knowledge, and shaping culture.
In particular, Alain saw Wikipedia as having a profound impact on Miami’s art scene. "It can gather, structure, and finally document Miami art scene history," he noted. This idea excited him—the possibility of preserving the city's artistic identity and making it accessible to a global audience through a single, unified platform.
When asked what advice he would give the next group, Alain was quick to respond: "Make sure you have one (or more) topics you'll work on. Plus, make sure you already have a list of links to start digging into." His journey had taught him the importance of preparation, of knowing where to look and what to focus on before diving into the vast ocean of Wikipedia content.
As for what excited him about Wikipedia moving forward, it was the "possibilities of interacting with the rest of the Wiki community." Wikipedia was more than just an encyclopedia to Alain now—it was a living network of knowledge and collaboration, where his voice, and the voices of others, could contribute to something greater than themselves.
Alain's journey through the Wikipedia workshop was one of transformation—from nervous beginner to confident contributor. He found a new way to connect his love for art and culture with the broader world of information sharing.
