10 Questions with
Maria Ortiz-Haynes
local
ART&CULTURE
1. Do you listen to music while you create, and if so, what is
your favorite? Yes, of course! To connect to my heritage (Cuban and
African-American), I listen to Salsa music a lot – El Gran Combo, Celia
Cruz – and Classic Soul music, as well as 40’s music like Duke Ellington
and Count Basie. Also, to change the mood, I love some classical as
well, especially Vivaldi and Yo-Yo Ma. All of these genres transport me
to a tranquil, creative space and for me the music still lingers in most of
my finished work.
2. When did you first start making art? I was affected and
inspired to create a mosaic after my first trip to Cuba (my mother’s birthplace)
in 2013. In 2014, I decided to try memorializing the beauty and
color I saw there. I’m not a painter, but years ago I had done a few
small mosaic projects. So, I decided to use colorful stained glass as my
palette and after completing that first piece I realized I had lost track
of time and had immersed myself in creating a mosaic style that I think
is unique. I start with drawing my design on a surface, then hand-cut
the glass, glue the pieces on and then grout and seal the finished piece.
There is no electricity involved, no grinders, etc. Everything is hand cut.
I love the whole process and as I am a self-taught mosaic artist, my art
continues to evolve.
3. Who or what influences your work the most? My culture
and heritage – Cuban and African American – are my greatest influences.
A blend of Salsa and Soul. I find beauty in the modern as
well as ancestral inspiration. I long to draw my viewer into a tangible
display of the beauty of my culture, bright colors, movement and an
underlying story in the nuances of each piece of glass.
4. Do you have a goal with the pieces that you create? I
am a mosaicist specializing in stained glass. I like to say that I create
non-traditional mosaics since most people only think of mosaics as the
small tile pieces (tesserae) that you see in Roman and Byzantine ancient
art. I also do non-traditional stained glass work as people generally
think of stained glass in terms of Tiffany lamps or church windows.
Continued on next page
Left page, bottom, left: Gene's Garden (32x52); above: El Centro.
Right page, top, left: Shall We Dance? (24x28); top, middle: Smokehouse
(24x30); and top, right: Two-Can (18x24); bottom, left: Keys
(18x17).
20 • JANUARY 2020 813.682.9364 FLORIDA WOMEN MAGAZINE