Passion. Talk to an artist about their medium — be it pottery, glass, handwovens or stippling illustrations — and it’s one of the first words that comes up. These five Connecticut artisans create through very different mediums, but their stories share a common theme: creating isn’t an option; it’s a driving force in their lives.
Amee Hussey and Magaly Del Castillo
For over 10 years, Amee Hussey and Magaly Del Castillo worked at Mystic’s Oyster Club as a line cook and bartender, respectively. During COVID, the restaurant closed. Hussey seized the time to pursue pottery.
“I had a slight obsession with pottery, bringing it back from every destination I traveled to,” she recalls, “but never had the opportunity to try making it.” The purchase of a pottery wheel and a kiln later, “I ended up loving it.”
One day, while their kids played together at a park, Hussey shared photos of her work with Del Castillo. “Right away, I realized she had an amazing talent for ceramics,” Del Castillo says. “We decided to take a risk a
nd start a business.” They launched Ahmee Ceramics, the business’s moniker being an amalgamation of their names.
Having worked in the restaurant business, the duo understood dinnerware, so the foray into ceramics felt organic. They ventured into the public, as well, meeting with success at events like the Mystic Arts Fest and Waterford Farmers’ Market. Soon, it was time to up their game. In 2021, they rented space in Stonington’s Velvet Mill. “We can produce more volume, have a small retail space and separate our work lives from our home lives,” Del Castillo says. The Velvet Mill provided opportunities to connect with other businesses, retail stores, and designers within the space, as well as customers of its vibrant Saturday farmers’ market.
Customers are drawn to the minimalist nature of Ahmee Ceramics. Hussey and Del Castillo’s cultures influence the pottery. “I was born in Korea, then adopted and raised in the United States,” says Hussey. “I never had a connection with my birth country, but was fortunate to visit Korea a decade ago, where I appreciated the culture and the food. Some of my very first pieces of pottery were reminiscent of vessels I saw there. Working with pottery has opened the door for me to explore my background.”
Del Castillo hails from Peru, where she lived until she was 14. “In Peru, pottery is used as an artistic form for cooking, decor, and even as a sign of wealth,” she explains. “With Amee and me, there's this cultural connection about being immigrants finding ourselves in being part of a culture where pottery played a significant role.”
Of being at the wheel, Hussey says, “Nothing's forced, I let the clay dictate its shape. I go in with an idea of what I'd like to make. Some days, the clay flows, and I can be very creative. Other days it's restricting. It's about the connection with the clay in the moment.”
Peter Greenwood
The 1829-built Union Church, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, stands on 3 Robertsville Road in Riverton. Inside, there are no sermons devoted to fire and brimstone. Instead, there’s a furnace that creates art with molten glass. This is the Peter Greenwood Glass Blowing Studio Gallery and School. Greenwood’s heartfelt desire is to share his
passion for working with glass by helping students get hands-on with the medium.
Greenwood’s fervor for glass occurred while attending Rhode Island School of Design. Initially, his focus was on wood, metal fabrication and blacksmithing. Then, he became aware of the school’s glass program. He describes the moment as a “shift of consciousness.” He elaborates on his website, “The mystique, discipline and spiritual exercise of glass blowing forever changed my life.” Diving into the medium saw him traveling throughout Europe to learn as much as possible. Since then, his works have been displayed in museums ranging from Connecticut’s The Bruce and New Britain Museum of American Art to Vancouver’s Canadian Craft Museum and The Louvre in Paris.
Visit the gallery on the church’s second floor and his myriad interests are reflected in items such as furniture, lighting and sculptures. Beyond pieces shown in the gallery, Greenwood does custom work that can range from a rosewood bed with an 11-foot-high headboard to a 16-foot chandelier. He shares the gallery space with his wife, Christine Chaise Greenwood, who displays her paintings, jewelry and sculptures. For those looking to do some shopping, items range in price from $20 to $25,000.
When Greenwood talks about the classes taught at the studio, his enthusiasm is palpable. “Most people are apprehensive about working with hot glass,” he says. Greenwood gathers glass from the furnace, then brings the pipe over to the student for them to take over. “They’ll be making their piece from start to finish,” he says. “It's satisfying to see the smile on their faces when they realize they actually made a glass flower, paperweight or vase.” Students range in age from seven to 95 years old. Private lessons and team building sessions are available Tuesdays through Saturdays.
Anita Perez
Artisan weaver, Anita Perez just hit a milestone: 30 years of weaving. “I was taught how to weave during high school when I attended Oak Hill School for the Blind,” she says. As an adult, she saw weaving as a way to work from home so she could be with her children. When she learned about Hartford Artisans Weaving Center in 2009, she became a member.
Hartford Artisans Weaving Center program is open to people who are visually impaired, legally blind or aged 55 years or older. Additionally, they exhibit and curate sales of handwovens and teach classes to the public on hand weaving on a floor loom.
Though Perez came to the program knowing how to weave, she says coming into the program has upped her skills. “The Center’s looms range from six to 10 pedals,” she says. “I use a computer loom that only has one pedal, but it allows for tackling harder pattern designs, which I love.”
Perez’s creations run the gamut from scarves and shawls to table runners, napkins and towels. The Center’s products are marked with artisans’ names, so fans can buy other items from that weaver. They can also meet and talk with the weavers. “It makes me happy knowing someone is going to enjoy a scarf I made, or relax with one of my blankets over their lap while watching TV.”
One item Perez made, she purchased for herself. “The Center had a project where we designed something with a word or saying,” she recalls. “My word was strong.” The word gave Perez conflicting feelings. “When my husband passed away, people kept telling me I was strong. I didn’t like the word because I didn’t feel strong.” Gradually, her reaction changed. “My husband taught me a lot about how to live and how to die, and being at the center makes me feel stronger.”
Steve Habersang
For over 20 years, Steve Habersang worked at Taylor Design as a graphic artist and art director. During his off-hours, the New Fairfield resident renovated his home. When that project concluded, he found himself searching for something to do with his newfound time. “Being a graphic designer, you're on the computer all day, and I wanted to get back to fine art and drawing by hand.”
Daily creations erupted. Habersang’s wife, whom he’s been married to for 13 years, was surprised. She’d never known about his propensity for drawing. Impressed, she suggested he post them on Instagram. In short order, those drawings had a following. A year later, in 2019, he held his first gallery show and was selling prints, t-shirts, vinyl stickers, enamel pins and magnets online at Etsy and at art events. Clients have even pursued using his art for tattoos. A business, Habby Art, was born.
Habersang’s style is pointillism, or stippling, through which dots are used for shading. “Not as many people do it anymore because it's very time-consuming,” he says. “Some of the pieces I do can take anywhere from 10 to 40 hours, even longer.”
Much of Habersang’s work is nature-focused. “I was going to be a marine biologist,” he says of early career thoughts. “So, a lot of my drawings stem from the passion I have for nature and the environment.” His love for skate culture, surfing, and comics comes into play with his digital designs. “I have a graphic approach to that work that brings with it a bit of pop art and whimsical fun.”
Habby Art is still going strong. In January, Habersang launched his own graphic design studio, Habby Design Co., which provides clients with digital, print, branding and illustration services. What brings him the most pleasure? “When someone recognizes my work and says they’ve never seen anything like it, I take that as a huge compliment.”
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