Margaret Haydon ( she, her, hers )

Working with porcelain, I depict imagery from the natural world. Porcelain is a strong material, yet the ease with which it can shatter is a poignant metaphor for the relationship humans have with the natural world. I am increasingly aware of environmental change. Each day brings a new story highlighting the demise of various species from sturgeon and shark, to bee and golden frog. In terms of evolution, the psychological and physical gulf between humans and the natural environment is a relatively new phenomenon. Currently, communication and work processes require less and less physical interaction. Social technology has led to isolation. Many are unmoved by the gravity of bleached coral reefs and melting glaciers. Communion and interaction with natural ecosystems develop emotional investment. This in turn promotes stewardship. Curiosity and wonder encourage respect for species and systems, and promote an appreciation for mystery. I work to render the beauty, strength and vulnerability of nature.

Margaret Haydon earned her MFA in Ceramics in 1989 from San Francisco State University, after which she developed a long teaching career. She is currently Professor Emeritus of Ceramics at the University of Wyoming, where she taught and managed the Ceramics area from 2001 to 2021.  Post retirement, Haydon maintains an active studio practice in Boulder, Colorado.  She also is on the Board of the Boulder Potter’s Guild where she is currently serving as Class Chair.

Haydon’s work is driven by curiosity about the natural world.  Raised on the North Atlantic coast, she has made her home in the Rocky Mountain region since 1991.  Spending time in the woods and mountains continues to inspire her admiration for the beauty of natural systems.  Her current work references the natural world in porcelain.  Images include aspen trees, bats, sturgeon, bees.   Her work has been exhibited nationally and internationally.  Between 2010 and 2019, Haydon sought opportunities to connect with naturalists.  Working with fish biologists in the United States, Canada and Hungary, and participating in a Biophilia residency in Quebec, Haydon anchored her aesthetic work in the study and observation of the species she depicts.