Prehistoric fish inspires artist-in-residence

Margaret Kenway Haydon “was hooked” the minute she laid eyes on a sturgeon.

She saw something special in the odd looking prehistoric fish that dates back to the Jurassic period 200 million years ago.

Haydon, Vancouver Island University’s first visiting artist-in-residence, is turning her obsession with sturgeon into unique ceramic art. She’s using VIU’s sturgeon as a source of inspiration during her four-month sabbatical from teaching duties at the University of Wyoming.

“Sturgeon have a fascinating history,” she said. “There are 26 species left, and many are threatened because of dams, pollution and overfishing. They are important creatures historically, genetically, socially and now environmentally. I am obsessed with their physical reality, their large scale, their bony scutes and the elongated snouts of certain species. They have a certain kind of wisdom about them that comes from their longevity as a species.”

Working out of studio space provided by VIU’s Visual Arts department, Haydon has created several interesting pieces of art – all related to sturgeon. Every Wednesday, she works alongside Fisheries and Aquaculture students to feed and care for sturgeon kept in large tanks for research purposes at the Nanaimo campus.  

“This is exactly the type of sabbatical I dreamed about,” she said. “I wanted to be completely immersed in sturgeon. VIU’s  International Centre for Sturgeon Studies is the perfect place. Working with the fish inspires me.”

Haydon’s fascination with sturgeon began in 2005 when she was invited to exhibit her work at solo art show during a major international clay conference in Vancouver, Washington.

“I was asked to show my work in the White Sturgeon gallery, which was attached to an aquatic education science centre on the banks of the Columbia River. At the time, my work focused on boats. I had no idea what a sturgeon was.  I read everything I could and was amazed to discover they are the oldest, largest freshwater fish on the North American continent.

“I fell completely in love with this weird looking creature, and have been creating sturgeon related artwork ever since. They captured my imagination, and the more I research them, the more captivated I become. For me, they are a symbol of change and transformation.  Additionally, they speak to the diminishing capacity of many species to survive in the face of human impact.”

While planning her four-month sabbatical, Haydon found VIU’s International Centre for Sturgeon Studies online and sent a query to Fisheries technician Gord Edmondson. “As soon as he received my email he said “why don’t you come here?”

Haydon’s presence on campus has been the catalyst “for a unique and unprecedented cross pollination between the Visual Arts department and the Fisheries and Aquaculture department,” said Scott Leaf, visual art technician and ceramic instructor .

“It’s paying huge dividends,” he said. “Margaret interacts with and mentors our students. It’s eye-opening for students to see a professional artist making her living through art.”

Gregory Ball, Visual Arts program Chair and Visual Arts instructor, said it is invaluable to have a professional artist embedded into the curriculum.

“Margaret’s presence at VIU gives students a sense of purpose and a profound meaning to their own educational goals and dreams,” said Ball. “They begin to see that if they work hard and are persistent, they too can go the distance with their art careers.”

Haydon’s work has become not only an expression of her personal ideas, but a vehicle for environmental awareness and advocacy. 

During the past two years, she has begun to organize exhibitions and presentations that introduce information on specific aspects of the environment. Partial proceeds from the sale of her artwork, or the sale of representative portfolios, are donated to the Ocean Conservancy.

Haydon plans to return to Nanaimo in July 2010 for the opening of VIU’s International Centre for Sturgeon Studies. 

The public is invited to hear Haydon speak about sturgeon and her artwork on Tuesday, November 24. The talk is part of VIU’s visiting artist lecture series organized by art and design instructor Ellen McCluskey. There will be a tour of the sturgeon faculties at 4:30 pm outside of Building 480 with the artist talk commencing afterwards in building 200, room 203 from 5:15 pm to 6:30 pm. Everyone is welcome.

About Margaret Kenway Haydon:

Margarget Kenway Haydon earned her Master of Fine Arts in ceramics from San Francisco State University, San Francisco, California. She has been a working artist and teacher in the Colorado-Wyoming area since 1991.  She became Assistant Professor of Ceramics at the University of Wyoming in 2002, and Associate Professor in 2008. Currently represented by the William Havu Gallery in Denver, Colorado, and the Doug West Gallery in Arroyo Seco, New Mexico, Haydon’s work is exhibited frequently in shows around the United States.