Continuing with our artist profiles of artists both living and working in the Hamptons, our next artist is Jana Hayden, who lives in East Hampton.

East Hampton - Jana Hayden reflects "I grew up in Prague, a city steeped in history and culture. In my childhood, my cultural influences came mostly from my parents, especially my father. Though he supported our family by working as a civil engineer, he was deeply interested in the arts, knowledgeable not only about classical music and art history, but especially about 20th century painting. In his spare time he painted complicated compositions, influenced mainly by the artists of the 1930s. His favorite painter was Frantisek Kupka. My brother and I spent hours with him walking around the historic parts of Prague, visiting galleries and museums, absorbing that unique mixture of images that Prague offered back then, almost devoid of tourists, but also free of commercialism."

Artist Jana Hayden in her East Hampton studio. Above her "Mayan I and II" Ceramic/Wood fired, 2008. Photo by Eileen Casey

Commenting on her own art education, Hayden elaborated "I studied photography at the School of Graphic Arts in Prague under the guidance of a very professional teaching staff, among them Josef Ehm, a well-known photographer and author of several photographic books. Our training was quite comprehensive, we photographed architecture; still-lifes, glass, portraits, and we developed and enlarged all of our work."

Further reflecting on her childhood in Prague, Hayden reminisced "During the long walks around Prague with my camera I frequently visited the old Jewish quarter of Prague, and in particular the old cemetery. This was, and still is, one of the most interesting places I know - the burial space is extremely limited; the dead were buried 12 deep there, and the more than 12,000 gravestones are fairly piled up on each other, some sinking deep into the ground, others leaning on each other, still others flat and looking almost like beds. From a photographer's point of view - a veritable feast for the eye. I would go there at every opportunity, at all times of the day and at different times during the year, amassing a large collection of black and white photographs."

Over a period of one year, Hayden put together several hand-bound books of these photographs. One of the books, given to a friend in the United States, eventually earned her a full scholarship to the Graduate School of Fine Arts at the University of Pennsylvania. There, she first concentrated on photography, and then felt the influence of the varied talent of her fellow students and professors. At this time, she started to experiment with diverse graphic arts techniques and large scale photo lithography.

"Flower" Ceramic (Framed), 2006.

Hayden considers graphic arts, printing and photography to be the mainstays of her artistic expression for many years, and in the early 1990s she began taking classes in ceramics and sculpture at Hofstra University and developed a keen interest in this medium, which for her, "was a totally new medium." Hayden commented that "I progressed through the various techniques, from wheel throwing to hand-building functional items, and finally concentrating on producing abstract sculptural pieces." She credits the inspiration for these pieces as "Coming from nature, with its endless variety of shapes, textures and hues, especially from the winter color palette of muted and subtle tones."

Hayden feels the "Resulting sculptures are not realistic copies of natural objects; rather, they are the images I see in my mind. Harmonies and compositions of free flowing shapes, juxtaposed by the symmetry of the tiles that form their background, 'landscapes' created by shaping clay with various tools or impressing into it rocks, plants, shells and sand."

"Ocean" Photograph, 2008.

Generally using white clay as her medium, Hayden completes a sculpture in several firings, first in an electric kiln to give the body strength, then in a pit firing, surrounded by sawdust, seaweed or various organic materials. She sometimes employs stains and metallic glazes, and refires the same piece more than once.

Hayden finally states that "The result is a work of art in harmony with nature, with subtle color hues, enhanced by the random effects of fire."

When did you start making art and what medium(s) do you consider to be your roots in art?

Jana Hayden: My father's artistic influence had a great impact on me since my early childhood. Even during my grammar school years, I would attend various afternoon art instruction programs, and spent quite a bit of my free time drawing and doodling. The decision to concentrate on photography was influenced by my great admiration for the work of the great Czech photographer Josef Sudek. However, after four years of strict school discipline, I was more then ready to expand my horizons past photography. To this day, I am always eager to try out new ways to create interesting pieces or images, and quite willing to mix styles and techniques to achieve what I am after.

"Passion Flower" Ceramic (Framed), 2006.

What is it about the Hamptons that brought you here and enticed you to stay, work, and pursue your art here as opposed to some place else?

JH: After growing up in Europe, and deciding to spend my life in the United States, I had a difficult time settling down in any one place. From Philadelphia to Hawaii, from Hawaii to New York's Rockaway Beach and then Massapequa, Long Island, there was always a feeling that this is nice, but still not quite home. In December 2000, during the Millennium celebrations, my husband [artist Jim Hayden – see Hampton.com Artist Profile] and I spent a week in East Hampton at a friend's house in the Northwest woods, while they were vacationing elsewhere. I still remember that first night, coming out of the house in the pitch black of the woods, and seeing the millions of stars above – actually seeing the Milky Way! And the deep winter quiet of the snow and the trees around me. And the next morning, a long walk on a deserted beach at sunrise. I knew at that moment that I had found the place I wanted to live in for the rest of my life.

"Shells" Photograph, 2006.

How do you support yourself as an artist?

JH: I am fortunate that one of the main influences during my years at the University of Pennsylvania was professor Eugene Feldman, who not only ran our department, but also operated a fine printing company, the Falcon Press. Both my husband and I worked there after school, and we both fell in love with printing. As a result, we later started and jointly ran a printing and graphic arts services firm, which provided us with a good income while satisfying the urge to be creative. To this day I still have clients for whom I provide printing and graphic services. While over the years I have been able to sell my art to various collectors, having an independent source of income has given me the chance to be quite free in my artistic expression.

"Heart" Ceramic with Metallic Glaze, 2004.

Why live and work in the Hamptons as opposed to elsewhere?

JH: The East End of Long Island, and especially the Springs, where we live, seems, at least for me, to be the ideal place to live. It is peaceful and quiet in the winter, it has open spaces, the ocean, the woods. After living here for nine years, I have made friends in both the art world and the local community, and I truly feel at home here.

What local environmental or historical aspects of the Hamptons do you relate to that may be reflected in your medium?

JH: Living in the woods and surrounded by nature is a constant inspiration for my sculptural art. The textures of the beach sand, the unspoiled quiet of the marshes and grasses along the bay are a never-ending source of imagery for my photographs. And standing outside Ashawagh Hall on any given Saturday evening, watching the sun go down and the crowds gathering to view the latest art exhibit fills me with a deep sense of historical continuity of a local art scene and gratitude at being part of it.

"Continuity" Ceramic with Metallic Glaze, 2008.

What artists do you feel have influenced you and your work?

JH:Georgia O'Keeffe's flower paintings have been a powerful influence for quite a long period of time, as have her Canyon Suite watercolors. The incredibly powerful photographs of Ansel Adams are always an inspiration to seek beauty in nature. But I am perhaps more influenced by several local artists I know personally and whose artwork I admire, among them James Kennedy, Bob Bachler, and Diane Giardi.

What advice would you give an emerging artist?

JH: Experiment with as many styles and variations as you can, and pay more attention to what you feel in your heart is right and good than to what is fashionable and likely to sell.

"Fire" Photograph, 2008.

What gives you an edge (if any)?

JH: Being lucky enough to grow up in a family and in a city filled with art and culture, being able to travel and connect with people of many backgrounds and views, having a family who is loving and supportive of each other.

What are you working on now, and are you involved in any upcoming shows or exhibitions?

JH: I am currently working on a series of Raku wall sculptures, with very basic black and white glazes, influenced by the simplicity of Japanese ceramic art. In June, I will be the featured artist at The Crazy Monkey Gallery, where I exhibit regularly in group shows. During the summer I will be participating in the Artist Alliance of East Hampton Studio Art Tour, as I have for the past three years, and in November, I will be taking part in an exhibit at Ashawagh Hall.

 • To view more of Jana Hayden's work, call 516-509-0592, or visit the following website at www.haydenaesthetics.com, or email at haydenjj@optonline.net.