Q&A with Amy Hauft

What is your favorite tool, material, and/or process?
Because of the scale of my work, I am pretty sure I cannot make art without a laser level.

What is the best advice you’ve ever received about your work?
“That will never work.” Which I made work…albeit differently than originally imagined.

What is the best advice you’ve ever given to someone about their work?
“That will totally work!”

Where do you make work?
Recently I have been working at the maker space, MADE, so I can use their 2 CNC routers. But usually I work in my studio at home.

What do you listen to/watch while you work?
I listen to audio books or podcasts. Currently listening to Hillary Mantel’s The Mirror and the Light. 38 hours! Plenty of time…

What’s your top studio jam?
This sounds awful, but its political podcasts

Best studio hack OR the skill you’d be most lost without?
I have some kind of innate ability to put things together so they look good. I am the kind of person who walks into someone’s house and can immediately see that the couch would look way better over there.

What food can be used to bribe you?
Anything with cilantro and lime

Do you have a studio uniform? Please describe.
Jeans and a washed-to-death shirt

It’s the 11th hour before your opening. What are you doing?
I am changing my mind about what to wear

Who or what has had the biggest influence on your work?
Architecture and movies

A book you’ve read more than twice is…
The City and the City by China Mieville. (I read it again as soon as I finished it)

How do you stay motivated?
I need the work to be destined for a specific space. It is almost impossible for me to make without the space in my mind’s eye.

How do you procrastinate?
I sweep. Sweeping is gratifying

Early Bird or Night Owl? Early Bird

Do you have pets? If so, what are their species and names?
Parsnip: Standard Poodle (although nothing standard about her)

Biggest pet peeve?
I can’t think of mine, but Jack’s is when people say “libary”

What is your favorite thing about St. Louis?
The Arch

Epoxy, mineral spirits, or Command-Z?
Epoxy: West Systems

Tell us something we forgot to ask:
My second favorite tool: Festool cordless drill