ROSEMARY HAYNE: Hometown Artist Makes Art and Good

Rosemary today

I was aware of Rosemary Hayne from the time we both were sent to Watson Elementary School in third grade by the Perry Schools administrators who decided such things, but I think we were never in a class together. I know we weren’t in third, fourth, or sixth grade, because I have the class photos for those. Maybe the fifth. Never at Edison, and I am pretty sure, never at Perry. But I always had such a strong memory of her smiling, not saying much, just smiling, and of her being one of the art students who hung out in Mrs. Sheehan’s room with Sue Scourfield, Kathi Lewis, Peg Forrest, Deb Dickinson, Don McArthur, Bill Clauss, Pam Druesedow, Don Potter, Dave Kracker, Joan Kate, and Marilyn Moore.

Since returning home to live in Canton in my retirement after 40-some years away, I've looked up some PHS classmates, and I asked Rosemary to meet me for coffee at Carpe Diem in downtown Canton to learn where she had been the past 40-some years.



I was amazed to find that all along Rosemary Hayne had been the art teacher at Edison Middle

Rosemary, yearbook photo

School!!! I wasn’t surprised to learn that she had been an art teacher, not at all. But for the Perry Schools? I couldn’t get a job in the Perry Schools to save myself (literally), even when they had one job open in two fields, both of which I had degrees in. That is another story. Rosemary’s story is this one:


Rosemary was the quiet only child of an older couple, so when she went off to college, they didn’t want her to get too very far, and she went to Ashland College. After three years at Ashland, she became discouraged at what she perceived as indifference or apathy regarding the event that led up to the massacre at Kent State on May 4th. She was also disappointed in Ashland's art curriculum, so she transferred to Kent State and graduated with a Fine Arts degree in December 1972.


A few years following graduation she took a job teaching junior high school art in Barberton where she had previously done her student teaching. The transition to  an ultra conservative-factory town  was quite a culture shock after her hippie days at Kent in the early 70’s.

While she felt she was doing a good job there, when she heard there was a job at Edison, she went for it and was hired. It was a new and better experience. At Barberton, she felt that neither the school nor the parents appreciated the teaching of art very much. She says, “Over and over, parents said to me, ‘Why does my child have to take art?’”


“And not at Edison?” I asked.


“Well sometimes the students would say, 'Why do I have to take art?' but I didn't get it nearly so often as at Barberton, and it was from the kids” she replies. “I had good support from the school and the parents, who seemed to like what their kids were doing.”

Acrylic by Rosemary Hayne

And there she stayed in the Perry Local Schools for many years, teaching at Pfieffer when it first opened. While she was teaching art, she worked in a lot of  art media, taking classes such as photography, metals, and more  at Akron U and a variety of other schools for fun.


She also worked in colored pencils. and producing her own art. She continued making art, primarily painting in acrylics both alone and with other local artists, participating in many art shows in downtown Canton. And she cultivated her love of having dogs, rescuing dogs, helping dogs be rescued, and supporting local animal organizations.

Then, like many of us, she got the opportunity to retire, which she did. In retirement,  she has taken painting classes at Malone. ("Did you know you can take classes for free at universities if you are over 60 ?!!!!!" she emailed me, a tip for all of you who are looking to stay mentally active.) She also belongs to a colored pencil art group that meets every Friday for drawing and social fun.




Untitled by Rosemary Hayne

She has exhibited a lot locally: in the Stark County Artists Show, the May Show and at the Little Art Gallery in North Canton, and for several years, she  had a gallery space in downtown Canton at the then 2nd April Galerie.  


"Dottie" by Rosemary Hayne 



"Old Blue" by Rosemary Hayne

Today, she says, "Dogs are an important part of my life. I have three: Archie, who is an agility dog and his litter mate, Sammie, whose life is focused on eating, sleeping and contemplating life. The newest member of the canine family is Annie who will hopefully follow in Archie's footsteps as an agility dog."  Like several of our classmates (hey, Alana Cowal Whittier! hey, Sue Masalko Shaffer! Anyone else out there? ). Rosemary is active in dog rescue efforts, primarily with the Stark County Dog Pound, where she has worked in fundraising  for the vet room, walking dogs, finding abandoned dogs well matched homes, and serving on the Friends of Stark Pound  Board.


Since our first coffee meetup, Rosemary and I have gotten together for an art "fix." We viewed the "Elijah Pierce" exhibit at the Canton Museum of Art, saw some movies and heard some organ music at the Palace Theater, and ate out at Basil Asian. If you like art or classic films or Thai food, let us know, and you can join us. It would help if you are a dog person.

All of the artwork is copyrighted by Rosemary Hayne. Contact her on Facebook if you'd like to purchase any or see any of her other work.