arteology ar·tae·ol·o·gy | /ˌärtēˈäləjē/ (noun) – the combination of art and archeology that utilizes three-dimensional found objects in a two-dimensional setting, esp. as related to the process of reifying ideas to produce artwork depicting collective occurrences
reify re·ify | \ ˈrā-ə-ˌfī , ˈrē- \ (transitive verb) – to consider or represent (something abstract) as a material or concrete thing; to give definite content and form to (a concept or idea)
Maria Montoya Hohenstein studies and marks shared human experiences. She believes that taking a collective abstract experience and making it tangible allows us to recognize our commonalities and to communicate through art.
Those whose lives were touched by the Bastrop Complex Fires of 2011 share a trove of charred experience. Along with many others, Maria lost not only her home and material possessions, but also memories of family, personal relationships and the sense of security ascribed only to the “homed.” As a result of this crucible, Maria turned to found object art, using precious remains from the tragedy to tell her story.
Good stewardship of the planet and being green in art are important values to Maria, and so she reifies concepts using found objects. The majority of materials she uses are those that have been reclaimed and repurposed. Much as archaeologists do, she has plucked broken glass, fractured ceramic, and rusted metal out of ashes and soot and rearranged them to create an art form dubbed “Arteology” that involves taking three-dimensional found objects and placing them in a two-dimensional setting to form a tapestry whose interwoven fragments transport the viewer to life as it might have been before. By reusing objects, she breathes new life into them, grants or restores dignity, and assigns added value to them.
Born in Brownsville, TX, Maria has lived in San Antonio, Austin, Lincoln, NE, Sioux City, IA, and Cupertino, CA. She currently resides just outside of Austin in Bastrop. She came to art later in life after a full career in educational administration. Now a full-time artist whose influences are derived from Picasso’s eclectic attitude toward style and Louise Nevelson’s conceptual sculptures using found objects,
she is an award-winning participant in Bastrop's First Friday Art Walk, and has shown at Art on the Green, Art Connections, the Bastrop Fine Arts Gallery, and in various other venues. In July 2013, she had a solo art exhibit at La Pena in Austin entitled, "From Bastrop to Phoenix". She had a three month show at the Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center in Austin in 2015. In November 2014 and 2015, she participated in Big Medium’s East Austin Studio Tour at Canopy. Currently, Maria works in her studio in Bastrop and shows her work at the Bridges Emporium and in her studio at Canopy in Austin. When she is not in her studio, she is in the gym exercising, walking or hiking, and reading historical fiction novels.
reify re·ify | \ ˈrā-ə-ˌfī , ˈrē- \ (transitive verb) – to consider or represent (something abstract) as a material or concrete thing; to give definite content and form to (a concept or idea)
Maria Montoya Hohenstein studies and marks shared human experiences. She believes that taking a collective abstract experience and making it tangible allows us to recognize our commonalities and to communicate through art.
Those whose lives were touched by the Bastrop Complex Fires of 2011 share a trove of charred experience. Along with many others, Maria lost not only her home and material possessions, but also memories of family, personal relationships and the sense of security ascribed only to the “homed.” As a result of this crucible, Maria turned to found object art, using precious remains from the tragedy to tell her story.
Good stewardship of the planet and being green in art are important values to Maria, and so she reifies concepts using found objects. The majority of materials she uses are those that have been reclaimed and repurposed. Much as archaeologists do, she has plucked broken glass, fractured ceramic, and rusted metal out of ashes and soot and rearranged them to create an art form dubbed “Arteology” that involves taking three-dimensional found objects and placing them in a two-dimensional setting to form a tapestry whose interwoven fragments transport the viewer to life as it might have been before. By reusing objects, she breathes new life into them, grants or restores dignity, and assigns added value to them.
Born in Brownsville, TX, Maria has lived in San Antonio, Austin, Lincoln, NE, Sioux City, IA, and Cupertino, CA. She currently resides just outside of Austin in Bastrop. She came to art later in life after a full career in educational administration. Now a full-time artist whose influences are derived from Picasso’s eclectic attitude toward style and Louise Nevelson’s conceptual sculptures using found objects,
she is an award-winning participant in Bastrop's First Friday Art Walk, and has shown at Art on the Green, Art Connections, the Bastrop Fine Arts Gallery, and in various other venues. In July 2013, she had a solo art exhibit at La Pena in Austin entitled, "From Bastrop to Phoenix". She had a three month show at the Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center in Austin in 2015. In November 2014 and 2015, she participated in Big Medium’s East Austin Studio Tour at Canopy. Currently, Maria works in her studio in Bastrop and shows her work at the Bridges Emporium and in her studio at Canopy in Austin. When she is not in her studio, she is in the gym exercising, walking or hiking, and reading historical fiction novels.
CONTACT MARIA
Phone: 512-810-9111
Email: mmhohenstein@gmail.com
See Maria's artwork at the following locations:
Phone: 512-810-9111
Email: mmhohenstein@gmail.com
See Maria's artwork at the following locations:
The Bridges Building, 920 Main Street, Bastrop, TX 78602
Canopy Austin, 916 Springdale Rd, Austin, TX 78702 (Only During East Studio Tour)