We were lucky to catch up with Marguerita Hagan recently and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Marguerita thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Did you always know you wanted to pursue a creative or artistic career? When did you first know?

Growing up on the Lafayette River, a tributary of the Chesapeake Bay, I discovered clay as a child while playing on the beach of the tidal river. It was instinctive to make pots and sculpt the river clay. Although my grandmother, mother and sister were painters and that was considered art, I wasn’t drawn in that direction, so didn’t consider art as my calling.

When I was 14 and at an art show in a park, I asked a potter if she could teach me. She directed me to another exhibitor, Betty Kight, who became my first ceramic teacher. As ceramics was not offered in school, I found it or I could say, it found me alternatively, again. Throughout high school I rode my bike across town and when I got my license, I drove to the studio. I lived to be in Betty’s studio and learn from her. It is where I began throwing on the wheel. It was love at first sight. Early on, I knew that working on the wheel was an excellent skill but was just a means for me.

When registering for classes at James Madison University, the first and only class I knew I needed to enroll in was ceramics.

Alchemy connected me with the ceramicist and my beloved teacher, Masako Miyata, in my first university ceramic class in stoneware. It was a year later when she was able to offer JMU’s first hand-building class in low-fire clay that the lights came on for me. Indelibly, I crossed a threshold that illuminated my path as an artist. Masako and the clay opened the way, giving me a voice for life. The sensitive nature of the clay, airbrush and infinite possibilities allowed me to speak visually in a way previously not available. It set my heart ablaze and has fueled my passion without skipping a beat over the years.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I am a ceramic sculptor based in Philadelphia and an activist for the thriving of all life in mutually sustainable communities and environments. The concept of interdependence plays throughout my sculpture, teaching and community arts.

Throughout my career, my work brings to light the beauty and engineering of our planet’s diverse ecosystems and our powerful role as stewards. The intricate ceramic shines light on the wonder and respect for the fragile, diverse life with which our lives are intrinsically linked. My research-based practice is an ongoing discovery, magnifying our awareness, reciprocal responsibility and protection of each other and our planet.

My MFA is from Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts and BFA in Ceramics at James Madison University. Projects include collaborations with artists, scientists and community, environmental art-science residencies and lectures. You can find my work in collections and exhibits nationally and internationally.

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

People protect what they love. – Jacque Yves Cousteau

My work is a request to fall in love.

As an activist for the thriving of mutually beneficial communities and environments, interdependence is the focus of my practice in my sculpture, science and community collaborations and teaching. Be it diatoms forming exquisite colonies to produce more oxygen collectively, oak tree roots grafting for miles in interconnected systems or fungi’s wood-wide-web, this light-giving agency has enabled all life to thrive for eons. Its interconnected force of nature fuels my work and offers us a brilliant model. It is time we got the memo as working together is our way forward socially and environmentally.

My La Mer series magnifies the ocean from micro to macro. Inspired by the source, exploration includes firsthand diving, snorkeling, my own research and visiting scientists and their labs. This work gives visual voice to Earth’s largest element, the ocean, providing our every other breath as it produces over 50% of our planet’s oxygen.

Here we stand on a climacteric precipice as a planet. Nature has delivered a global wake up call to reset our perspective, systems and accountability as ambassadors for our beautiful blue planet. Supporting each other and our rising generations is vital in this inclusive direction. Seeing and realizing possibility in ourselves, each other and everything around us is a powerful and ever available resource. Creating what we love is fun. We have to have fun and be kind.

The most dangerous of all is to ignore this call. We must live like our lives depend on it, because they do. We have the solutions within ourselves collectively to restore greater balance. One step at a time. We are in this together.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

Historically, artists have been among the pioneers of new ideas and directions. This role is an honor and a responsibility especially at this intense time on our planet.

Personally, growing as an artist every step, dip and crest of my practice has been a blessing that continues to evolve and give. Creativity and clay have been constant life companions and this intimate relationship is indeed reciprocal. Clay is one of my greatest guides in life. Its nature, down to its molecules is adaptive and flexible with infinite potential. Its repurposing superpowers is impressive. Even after being fired in the kiln and broken, it can be ground into a ceramic polenta so to speak called grog which strengthens future clay bodies.

As an artist, I value and celebrate the elements of play and imagination. They are responsible for some of the most brilliant evolutions across time. Living outside the lines and going beyond what seems possible, physically and creatively while working in clay is a blast. The oneness I feel with my material has manifested a level of mastery in my art and the craft of my sculpture with immeasurable fortune.

Another one of many gratifying benefits I feel as an artist is sharing what I love. Raising awareness of the wonder of each other and essential elements of our natural world with which we are intrinsically linked is a treasure. Shining light on the disregarded, little known or seen life is an investment, individually and collectively. Every moment makes a difference and now more than ever. Restoring balance starts within each of us and expands including all in the circle of life.

Being a launching pad for others realizing their dreams is a joy. For me, sharing what one loves and supporting others in their vision is an infinite gift. While teaching and leading community art projects over my career, I am on a magnificent receiving end.

Contact Info:

• Website: margueritahagan.com
• Instagram: @marguerita
• Other: vimeo: https://vimeo.com/user10007697

Image Credits
artist portrait: Annabel Kiley images 1, 2, 3, 6 & 7: Richard W. Gretzinger image 4, 5 & 8: Ananda Connolly