Mary Hatch (BS '70, Secondary Education- Art; MA '72, Painting) taught briefly—three years to be exact—helping students to find their creative voice. She's also taught classes at Kellogg Community College and the Kalamazoo Institute of Arts. Although she felt well prepared for teaching, she returned to the studio to focus on her own art.
"In 1975, I began working in my studio full time, but it is a slow process finding your voice, and I needed to begin marketing my work," Hatch explained, but in 1980, she went to New York, Chicago, and various locations in Michigan to find a gallery.
"Working alone in your studio, you have no idea if anyone else will respond at all," said Hatch. Take a look at her resume, though, and you will see that people in fact did respond—a lot. Over the years, she has been featured numerous times in many publications and work is included in more than 300 public and private collections. "It does help to keep you going," she added.
Hatch's work has been featured in more than 30 one-person exhibits, but when asked what made her most proud there was no competition, "It's hard to beat being included in the inaugural show at the Richmond Center, which Don Desmett (founding Director of Exhibitions) hung so beautifully. I was very moved when I walked in for the first time."
She's of course referring to WMU's Richmond Center for the Visual Arts. As a student at WMU, she had a positive experience as well.
"I loved every Art class I took," said Hatch, "It was a wonderful opportunity to explore so many mediums – which was mandatory as an Art Education major."
You can see some of Hatch's artwork by visiting her website, and get information about upcoming shows and exhibits— a showing at the Center for New Media in downtown Kalamazoo, and in February her work will be displayed at the University of Michigan Hospital in conjunction with their continuing exhibits program.
To learn more or view some of Hatch's work, visit her website by clicking the link below:
WEBSITE — MARY HATCH
The artwork featured in this story is titled "The Opening."