Ivan Gundrum:
Artist, Educator, Mentor, Administrator
Marty Haythorn is a contemporary artist (pottery), sculptor, ethnographic artist, and art educator.
His heritage is both Native American and European. His interest in Native American pottery began as a child when his family traveled throughout the Southwest. He met Maria Martinez and other exceptional Native American potters and began a lifelong passion for pottery-making.
He has produced and taught pottery for over 35 years. During the mid-70’s, he worked closely with ethnographic artist Ivan Gundrum for four years producing museum-quality reproductions of Southeastern Pre-Columbian pottery. In the early 90’s he began experimenting with indigenous clays, pit-firing and stone burnishing. He now designs and produces original pieces in the Southeastern tradition and continues to expand the collection of reproductions begun by Ivan Gundrum.
Marty has a degree in Arts Administration and has worked as a Supervisory Arts Specialist, a Recreation Therapist and a Children’s Program Coordinator in an Alcohol and Drug Treatment Center. He is the founder and principle artist of Ancient Hands. Today, Marty's work is exhibited internationally.
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Artist Philosophy
It is not possible to adequately describe human nature without discussing art. The creative impulse that allows us to interpret the world we experience and to express our beliefs about that experience is at the very core of our soul.
I’ve been drawn to pottery for as long as I can remember. Making things out of clay is not a hobby or avocation for me.
It’s more of a calling or mission.
The Southeastern Native American pottery tradition has been the foundation of my work. America’s First People were artists. Long before the arrival of Europeans they created exceptional works of art from stone, clay, gourds, shell, antler, fibers and other natural materials. They felt a deep sense of reverence for and connection with not only the visible, material world, but also a spiritual world as well. For them, all of creation was sacred. This was expressed and reflected in the artwork they created.
Native American cultural heritage is important not only to Native Americans, but to all people of this planet. In understanding and appreciating their artwork we are given a glimpse of the heart and soul of humanity. We see ourselves in a new light and we are reminded of deeper truths about who we are.
As an artist, my highest aspiration is to seek these deeper truths and hope that my work shines an ever so faint light on who we are and on our purpose for being.