e sse nt i al arts
Clay, Glaze & Firing MICHIGAN
BY C H R I S GA R GA N
Whether we’re talking sculptors, painters, authors, musicians, or any other creative, decade after decade, the Midwest produces some of the most profound artists in the world. In recognition, this year we’re zooming out from Wisconsin to celebrate ceramicists in our neighboring states. Next stop: Michigan. 30 | m a d i s o n e s s e n t i a l s
Lindsey Ann Heiden Before her decision to attend graduate school at the University of Arkansas in 2015, Lindsey Ann Heiden engaged in a peripatetic lifestyle, traveling from state to state, studio to studio, doing internships, workshops, and apprenticeships as she grew her skills and defined her art. When she made the decision to get more formal education, she was engaged in a trifecta of life changes: the pursuit of a terminal degree; marriage; and the ensuing birth of her son, Wilder. She teaches at two UP schools, Michigan Tech University and Finlandia University.
While she loves being engaged with the student artists, “sparking people along,” as Lindsey says, she realizes she might rather be in the studio making work. The dilemma of every serious artist/academic is the pull to work on developing one’s own craft while recognizing and fulfilling the needs of the students they serve— especially in this time of pandemic, when communities and learners are so atomized. Lindsey’s art is driven and informed by the multiplicity of experiences, passions,
