Today we’d like to introduce you to Maria Haycraft.
Hi Maria, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start, maybe you can share some of your backstories with our readers?
I grew up in Niagara Falls, NY, in a home with a single mom. I was one of those kids who never fit into any real mold—I made my own! I was very into music, and it was my creative outlet all through my high school years. I thought I would be in the music industry for sure. But funny how life throws curve balls. I was ready to be a music major at a college in Rochester, NY, and at the last minute, I decided “nope, I’m moving to Florida.” I lived in Florida for a few years and made some pretty tragic decisions which taught me many lessons. This was a very dark time for me. I lived in Gainesville, Florida, discovered a super awesome legal graffiti wall, and began creating stencils and painting that wall. This quickly became an obsession and a creative outlet for me.
I didn’t realize then that I needed that outlet to help me through life at the time. I was in a toxic relationship that I committed to marriage. Now that was falling apart, so facing divorce, worthlessness, abandonment, and a slew of other emotional issues, you can imagine a creative outlet was key. The other key factor here is I’m a Christian and believe Jesus has completely transformed my life, only at that moment, I wasn’t living for him at all. But looking back now, I know his hand was all over my situation. HE gave me a creative outlet that truly helped me through that dark time in my life. Now I get to use that outlet to impact people’s lives uniquely. After years of stenciling, I’ve created a clothing line called Sacer and Savive. The entire idea and mission behind the brand is to help you “get dressed on purpose.”
We do so many things from work to family and so much in between; if we aren’t clothing ourselves on purpose, we may miss something important. It’s easy to go through the day-to-day motions. I mean, I catch myself even doing it… it’s so easy. But when you get dressed on purpose and remind yourself that you were made on purpose, it changes everything. You put intention into your day, and you put more value on your tasks, and you realize more and more that you really matter and you were made on purpose with a purpose. Getting dressed on purpose is just the beginning. EACH design I make as a message that inspires, encourages and reminds you that no matter where you are or where you have been, it matters, and you matter too.
I took this message one more step and created a non-profit called ArtLink that gives our community a creative outlet. We have a mobile art studio and a brick and mortar thats entire purpose is to ignite passions and build character through creativity. You can come to the studio anytime we are open and create. We have free and low-cost art projects, and the best thing is it’s a place you belong and can build relationships with others and build your confidence and get out of your head.
I don’t know who walks in my doors or where they have been, but I know I can offer them a space that they can have a creative outlet and have a complete sense of belonging. So little did I know that the creative outlet that helped me through my darkness was a gift from God that gave me to help me get through then; to offer to help others.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It’s not been easy at all. Every part had a learning curve. I think the hardest part was finding committed people to bring; who shared my passion, ambition, and energy level to work with me to develop and grow the businesses. The right people are hard to find. It’s my passion, though, and it kept me going.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I’m a stencil artist. I design and hand-cut every stencil. I then hand paint them on shirts. I have more recently added prints and framed art to my stenciling. What sets me apart? Probably my faith, honestly. It gives me more than just a why… it has put such a tug on my heart to create and get the message of what I do to impact other lives.
We’d love to hear about how you think about risk-taking?
I think risks are good and healthy, and you will never know if you have an urge or tugging on your heart to do something unless you take the leap and go for it. You risk a lot when you put your heart on the line, but man, when you do, you will never regret doing it even if it doesn’t pan out because then you know you’ll have the answers you need to… if you never take the risk, you will never get that answer; you will always be left with longing, so yes I’m a go for risks.
Pricing:
- a custom T-shirt is $25
- we have workshops for $36 in the studio
- we have ‘Off the Wall” art projects starting at $15
Contact Info:
- Email: sacerandsavive@gmail.
com - Website: https://
sacerandsavive.com/ - Instagram: sacerandsavive and artlinkclarksville
- Facebook: sacerandsavive and artlinkclarksvilletennessee
- Other: https://www.
artlinkclarksville.com/
Image Credits
Brittany Rose Bowen Photography
