Maria Hayden Ceramics mariahaydenceramics@gmail.com Raku Fired Ceramics Saggar Fired Ceramics High Fired Ceramics

As a child I emigrated from Cuba with my parents leaving behind our country, our family and our possessions. We were fortunate to be helped by others when we arrived in the United States and we, in turn, helped those who came after us. Needed items were given to us, even if they were slightly used. In time we passed those valued items along to someone else in need. I learned early not to become too attached to objects. The awareness of the temporary nature of objects in our lives always stays with me. Objects break, get lost or are left behind. In my ceramic work I must develop a relationship with the pieces I create. I work slowly, knowingly and intimately with the clay. The final form is something determined in equal measure by my hands and by the clay itself. I grow close with the piece as I shape it, carve it, glaze it and do the finishing work. Yet as the piece comes to completion I begin to pull back and prepare to let the piece go physically while acknowledging the benefit it has brought me and will, hopefully, bring the next owner.

Maria Hayden is a former operating room nurse married to a physician. They have 2 adult children and live in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. Awards & Recognitions: • 1st Place in Ceramics-2010 Armory Art Center Student Exhibition • Included in Lark Ceramics Publishing book of 500 Raku Member of: • Armory Art Center • Ceramics League of the Palm Beaches Current work can be seen and purchased: • Clay Glass Metal Stone Gallery, Lake Worth, Florida • Armory Art Center Gift Shop, West Palm Beach, Florida • Arts Arena Gallery, Delray Beach, Florida