Geoff Hathaway
Geoff Hathaway was born and grew up in the Midwest U.S., but in the mid-1980s, his extended family moved to Central Texas. Geoff received a degree in Theology and Religious studies in 1996 and a doctorate which focused upon the management of non-profit organizations in 1998. Geoff's studies and effort became a career as an independent environmental consultant for the past eight years, working on and researching basic environmental and energy concerns in the middle east.
The chess board concept begun in 1995 and work was done over the years to develop the boards so that they would not hinder or change the game in any way, but instead provide real conflict psychology based upon the landscape itself. This was an effort to find a more interactive game for his video-age kids. A long family and personal history with wood working and tools ensured basic skills and some knowledge of the intense labor involved in the chess board efforts. “The appearance of the boards themselves became as equally pleasing, as the functional aspects of the boards were interesting to play, and thus they have taken on a sense of drama and form that is very pleasing as standalone sculpture.” Geoff‘s early influences include M.C. Escher and many of the Dutch masters.
  
Badin's Joy
One day in 2006, Badin, as she prefers to be called, met an old lady selling ceramic mushrooms at a booth on South Congress. The lady generously allowed her to work with her and experience working with clay, thus opening her world to ceramics.
Since moving to Austin from her hometown in Taipei, Taiwan, Badin has concentrated her passions on gardening. She attributes this passion to having lived in the mountains when she was little and believes she was influenced "almost imperceptibly" by Mother Nature. Whenever she gets homesick, she can always find tranquility in her plants. Now, an adventure of exploring gardening and ceramics enriches her life. Badin creates gorgeous, ceramic mushrooms and flowers. This way, everyone can add a little art to their garden.
  
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