Stacy Hay

Growing up as a daughter of an Army Officer allowed Stacy the opportunity to live and travel in numerous locations throughout the United States, Europe and the Middle East.  She has lived in Germany, Texas, Kansas, California, Virginia, Portugal and Iran.   This had a major impact on her life opening her eyes to different cultures and aesthetics.

In high school she started to focus on art, taking drawing, painting, ceramics and jewelry.  This resulted in a passion for studying art.  In 1976, she graduated from Tehran American School, Tehran, Iran. She attended California State University, Humboldt in Arcata, California, because it was the opposite of Tehran, Iran.  She earned her Bachelors Degree in Art, and graduated Magna Cum Laude, top 3% in the Creative Arts and Humanities in 1981.   While attending college she met Sherman, her husband, in the art department.  They were married and moved to Tuolumne County in 1982 where they have raised their family.

Stacy started as a volunteer for her husband’s art class at Sierra Conservation Center in 1983.  She was hired as a Correctional Officer in 1984 for two years.  In 1986 she became the Artist/Facilitator directing and coordinating the arts program at the prison for 17 years.  This job immersed her in all aspects of art, she worked with contract artists/instructors to offer visual, literary and performing arts workshops to incarcerated people.  Stacy taught drawing, painting, printmaking, papermaking, bookbinding and mosaics.  She coordinated numerous Public Art Project that include: five mosaic tile murals for local elementary schools; Sonora Winter Holiday Project for the City of Sonora; ten posters for the Department of Agriculture and Forestry for fire prevention and a 10 panel mural for the Visitors Center at SCC.  Due to budget problems the art program was cut.  The last seven years of her career at the prison Stacy worked as a Correctional Counselor.  Working at the prison for 26 years influenced her artistic imagery.  Stacy retired from working at the prison in 2009.

Since 2009, Stacy has become a full-time artist.  Stacy’s art is spiritual, sensitive, and dream like, it is also dualistic.  Her works can often be cheerful, colorful and joyful.   They all emanate creative energy.  On the other side of her work there is a heavier tone, emphasizing emotions that encompass the tension of being psychologically or physically bound in constant turmoil.  Currently, she is focusing on painting, mixed media collage, and relief.  She has also worked along side her late husband with mosaic murals, a large rock sculpture garden, concrete casting and his metal sculptures.