Bio

The great, great, great granddaughter of Godfrey Frohe, Dutch painter and stained glass artist, Stacy Hettig was born in Syracuse, New York. By the age of five, she knew she wanted to become an artist.

One of her earliest memories is of her “creativity table”. Her father, Peter, (a designer) had set up a small table of art supplies close to his own desk. His repeated instructions to “Go make something.” Were words that became ingrained in her, and there could be no better preparation for her future.

While attending elementary school, she was considered gifted. She remembers Winnie J. Smith, her third grade teacher at Watertown Elementary separating her from the rest of the class and assigning her to decorate the bulletin board in advance of each holiday. “It was the first time I felt special” she says.

Wiley Middle School, also in Watertown, had a program that brought in Native American Storytellers from the Five Nations. (The the Mohawk, the Oneida, the Onondaga, the Cayuga, and the Seneca. A sixth tribe, the Tuscarora, joined after the original five nations were formed.) Stacy was deeply affected by their rich, symbolic stories. One of her short stories gleaned from that experience, “Little Bear”, was recognized by Rights for American Indians Now (R.A.I.N.) and was published in their magazine, “Smoke Signals”.

In high school, she was a National Council on Teachers of English Nominee. She also received awards for her visual art achievements, including MONY/Scholastic Art Awards. Her portfolio was then chosen from all senior portfolios for the Liverpool Art Guild Portfolio Award.

Growing up in Upstate New York also shaped her. The winters were absolutely stunning. Some of her strongest memories are of the way light would fall on the snow. The sound of snow crunching underfoot on an absolutely freezing night. The stars, brilliant and close in a black sky. Much of the solitude and landscape was ideal for artistic development.

At Syracuse University she was a United Methodist and a Mundy Scholar. She also received a Syracuse University Scholarship all four years of attendance. Her mentor while attending S.U. was Margie Hughto. Stacy was the ceramic studio assistant at Syracuse University, and though a painting major, through the mentorship of Ms. Hughto, she was able to expand her vision.

Soon she became one of the assistants at Hughto Studio in Jamesville, NY, which was life-changing. There, she was able to witness the incredible talent of Ms. Hughto, and also be a part of a true working studio.

Ms. Hughto wrote, “As a Professor of Ceramics at Syracuse University for almost twenty years, I have had the opportunity of working with many students as well as seeing a lot of ceramic work. I find Stacy’s work exceptional and unique. She has her own vision and the ceramic pieces reflect her special talent. I think she has the capability of developing into an exceptional artist.” Stacy graduated from Syracuse University Cum Laude. She attended graduate school at Massachusetts College Art.

The experience of living in six different states, including both coasts and the West, has given her the ability to see many viewpoints and also to become more centered and focused on who she is. Trips to Hawaii and the Caribbean inspire the brilliant color in her paintings. Her current home is in a suburb of Washington, DC where she lives with her husband, cats, and dog, Aspen.