"My journey reflects a commitment to less waste and more art, using creative expression to wake up the world to environmental responsibility.
I was the product of two artists, Jim and Maury Haseltine, who met in at the Museum Art School, in Portland Oregon, in the 1950's. Yes, I was a rare child to be raised by two artist parents. My mother was a professional artist, a full time painter and printmaker with works in multiple museums. My father was a huge advocate for the arts and ran and the first Salt Lake Art Center and then was the Directore of the Washington State Arts Commisison. They provided me with an amazing upbringing rich in the arts.
I soon realized how different I was from the others. Nobody else got to make art in their mother's art studio or go to the museum and opera as much as I did. I vowed to bring that love of the arts to others and became a certified teacher of art. My two education degrees got me through the doors to teach art in public schools, a university, private schools and museums for 30 years. I felt a responsibility to bring quality arts education to everyone! Those were joyous years, but my own art making was on hold.
At age 40 I decided to try out what my mother always said I should do, be a professional artist. I eased into it until my husband died suddenly and art truly saved me. I moved to Bandon by the Sea and starting the non-profit, Washed Ashore propelled me into full time art making.
My love of the ocean runs deep and my artwork as an adult has often been connected to the sea. Every summer I spent in Bandon, Oregon with my family visiting my grandpartents and walking the beaches. Each sculpture and project I designed was to evoke reflection and inspire action. My mission was to save the ocean and make the world a better place. I began with wanting to raise awareness about coral reefs in danger and creating tactile invetebrates. Then the Washed Ashore project was born. It was about rallying my community and then the world to stop horrible plastics from detroying sea life. After 12 years, I decided to go upstream and stop the waste before it hit the ocean. Through continuing to explore various repurposed, discarded materials I aim to keep pushing boundaries and challenging perceptions. I firmly believe that if people can see waste through a new lense and realize how much we waste, we can reduce our harmful consumer habits and help save our planet from being over resourced and under nourished.
