Would you mind telling us a little bit about yourself? Where are you from? What experiences have you had that have especially impacted or influenced you?

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Mary Ann: I was born in Mexico, in Chihuahua. I lived there for the first 18 years of my life and then came away to college at BYU as a freshman. [I] stayed a couple of years, and then I went on a mission on the west side of Mexico. Then I came back [to Utah] and worked at the bookstore at BYU. I met my husband, [and] we got married. Then, he got into Columbia law school, so we went on to New York City for three years, then [moved to] DC for a year [for work]. While we were in New York City we had our first child, then we had our twins in DC, and then he officially joined the air force after the twins were born, and we lived in central California. Then we went over to Las Vegas, that’s where our last child was born.

 

[After that] we got an assignment to Germany— fabulous experience. I got to do a lot with a lot of people there. It was there I remember feeling a little frustrated because I was taking care of children all the time and I didn’t feel I could be creative in the way I wanted to be. You know, there’s still creativity in taking care of children. You’re always problem solving, which I learned. But I had a friend who pointed out all this stuff that I do all day— cleaning dishes, washing clothes, folding them— it gets undone daily, but if I could get something— even if it’s just embroidery, do a couple of stitches a day— something that stays done, that nobody can come and undo, it will help my mental health. So, I started doing that. 

 

How did you become an artist? 

 

I did the basic courses at BYU when I first got there, but then I realized I didn’t have the experience that everyone else had so I thought, “oh I can’t be an artist because I don’t have the experience they do”, but I realized after I left school I was still able to incorporate creativity with my kids. I was making Halloween costumes, I was doing all sorts of creative things, but not that you would put in a show necessarily. 

 

It wasn’t until later I was able to finish school, mostly focusing on ceramics, which is what I really love. 3D is where my heart is— sculpture and ceramics. After several other moves, [my husband] retired and he decided why don’t we move to Utah because that’s where all our kids were in school, and he said maybe you can finish up with your bachelors. So, I got into UVU, I got a BFA there focusing on ceramics, and that was in 2021 I graduated. In the fall I started my MFA at BYU. It was just like this opportunity opened up—I never really dreamed about doing [this]. I just thought my job is taking care of kids, walking the dog, that sort of thing— so I pinch myself everyday I can’t believe I get to use the resources available to me, like ceramics and printmaking. I’m starting to explore [more] and I am loving it. 

 

What is it about ceramics/sculpture that you loved compared to other mediums? 

 

3D is a solid form. You can see it, see around it, and what you see is what you get. The tactile moving, and approach. I envision things in a three dimensional way, so when I sit down to make something, I’ve already constructed it in my head how it has to be done before I even try. 2D is a different set of skills, I learned them when I had to for my basic courses, but that is not where my imagination [goes].

 

What topics or themes do you explore in your work?

 

Right now, I’m trying to recreate in a larger size typical things I gave my kids when they were little— like goldfish, or macaroni and cheese. I think I really like doing things that people instantly recognize. I have a platter of giant goldfish crackers, and people love it. They take pictures of it… it’s just instantly relatable. 

 

The show I am [working on] is called “Still Life Happens”. It’s basically like “Crap Happens”. It reminisces about taking care of children. I remember being astonished at how messy kids can be. What [my children left] behind turned into still life because sometimes I [wasn’t] very quick at cleaning it up. There's anxiety, and you get overwhelmed a lot of times, at least I did, but they were my most important work of anything. Nothing is more important than [they are] in my life. If I could have had a million children, I would have, but I would have needed the energy to match it. 

 

Why is art important to you?

 

I think everybody is a problem solver, and it fulfills that need for me. There are some problems I’ll never be able to solve. But art is something that I can conceive, I can carry it through and finish it. But the funny thing is, once I’m done with something I think Oh! I did this. I completed it…then I go on to the next thing. There’s always more to do once I finish.