Meet Bonnie Harris Hayden of Culver City

Today we’d like to introduce you to Bonnie Harris Hayden.

Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I think a great question to start with is “where exactly am I today?” I’ll start with that and work my way backwards. Currently I’m a dreamer, artist, ever-evolving soul-searcher, (and estate attorney) who uses the art of soft-sculpting with colorful cotton pom poms (“Poms”) to improve my mental health and spread happiness. It just so happens that other people also seem to enjoy the Poms and their stories. This year has had a lot of ebbs and flows, ups and downs, and the practice of making art has helped me calm down, relax, breathe, and work through some obstacles. I have been painting and jeweling a lot this year and I’ve created a few new Poms as well. My Pom art business, Behold The Pom, is now getting ready for a wonderful charity pop up art show at the Michael Kors Boutique in Beverly Center to benefit the American Brain Tumor Association – September 26th, 27th, and 28th.

We will also have the World Premier of our new short film, “The Pomcumentary”, which is the story of how making Poms saved my life, at Michael Kors during the pop up show!

A few weeks after the pop up art show at Michael Kors, on Saturday, October 18th, Behold The Pom is sponsoring the BT5K Walk and hosting a tent where people can make their own Poms after they complete the BT5K Walk for the American Brain Tumor Association. Dr. Sara Bellum, world renowned Pom neuroscientist will be hosting the tent with me. Creating Poms helps to heal and stimulate our brains and relax our hearts and nervous system.. Come see us at Crescent Bay Park in Santa Monica!

Last year Behold the Pom participated in the BT5K Walk, had several art shows that benefitted the American Brain Tumor Association, and showcased many new Pom creations such as Pom brooches, earrings, garlands, and large Pom “paintings” of dragons and the “Wall of Poms”. It was a year of experimentation that was kicked off by a wonderful reception for the Poms the prior year when the Pom 365 Project was completed – culminating in the Pomstravaganza! The Pomstravaganza debuted the collection of 365 Poms to the world. Pom 365 and all of the other Pom products exist under the umbrella of Behold The Pom and you are welcome to pop onto our website, see them all, and buy wonderful Pom gifts and commission custom Poms.

Why did I create 365 Pom characters in 365 days? Well, continuing to go back in time – in 2022 and 2023 I was experiencing a lot of challenges – personal, professional, and medical – and as a lifelong artist I knew that if I could create a piece of art every day for 365 days in a row it would improve my life and my health – and it did (in ways that I did and did not expect). Each Pom character has a story associated with it that is anchored in fact and so they are also very educational. I learned a lot and so did the group of people with whom I shared the Poms every day. This consistent art practice also helped me strengthen my relationship with myself because I was fulfilling a promise that I made to myself every day and I was strengthening my commitment to my mental health and well-being by taking this positive step – one day at a time. Plus, the Poms are cute, colorful, sparkly and fun, so they raise my spirits.

Prior to taking on this project I made art sporadically throughout my entire life – starting at the age of 3 when my grandma taught me how to work with pastels and how to draw. I eventually began painting murals in homes and businesses and I created a character called Ed the Chicken that I trademarked. When I’m not making Poms I paint a lot of animals like hummingbirds, bunnies, fish, and chickens, and creatures like robots and portraits of people’s favorite toys – all encrusted in jewels. I had shows for many years and enjoyed sharing my art – but I didn’t realize until I began the Pom 365 project that art could save my life.

Here I am today continuing to create Poms in honor of my dogs Noodle and Milton, and characters like Pomcasso and Pomdonna. I have even written a couple of books – “The Poma Sutra” and “The Adventures of Puff, the Pompliment Cat”, that are available on our website for our Pom fans to order and enjoy. I think with the wild fires and tumultuous times in the world this year it has been important for me to do more creating for the pure enjoyment of making art, as opposed to making products to sell for the Pom business. That said, I am happy to create and to partner with Michael Kors to benefit the great work of the American Brain Tumor Association and for people to purchase Pom merchandise to spread joy and goodness – and to have healthy brains! I think people need the Poms and their positive energy now more than ever.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Nothing has been smooth about this road. It was very difficult to adhere to my commitment to make one Pom each day for 365 days, so I set myself up to succeed. I had a travel kit and sometimes made Poms in airports or in the back of taxi’s. I had an understudy in case I had days when I couldn’t make a Pom – but I never needed my understudy – not even on the day I had a heart procedure (I’m fine!). I also sent my Pom of the Day to a group of friends every day so they could hold me accountable. I put structures in place so that I could succeed – even if I was tired or not feeling well.

After completing Pom 365 I was inspired to share the Poms with the rest of the world and it has been very challenging finding the right partners to help me build a website, handle social media, marketing, copyrighting, collaborating on shows, making books, jewelry, and a short film. Involving others is wonderful because our team helps me do the things I am not good at and don’t have time to learn – and it’s also kind of scary to put my trust for my artistic vision into others. It’s something very personal for me, and yet it now has a less-personal business component to it which is a challenge to balance.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I am known for being the Chief Pom Creator (CPC) and Pom Pilot – for making Pom characters that are based on real people and things like Pom Selleck, the Dalai Pomma, and Barak Opoma – or based on your dog, or my mom, or Michael “Pom” Kors. The story for each Pom is as entertaining as the Pom itself and I am happy to be both a fine art artist and a creative writer. I think I am especially known for making things colorful and sparkly – whether that is a Pom “Emerald Dragon” made with holographic vinyl or the “Wall of Poms” that has well over 1000 Poms on it. The Poms at Behold The Pom are satirical, like Pom McEnroe, and even “pomtroversial” – like L. Pom Hubbard and Pomela Anderson. Although the Poms are cute they are often times geared more toward adults and based in history. They are clever, full of whimsy, play, education, joy – and fun!

I can turn anything into a Pom and I make everything from tiny “micropoms” such as Jeff Pomzos, to large scale Pom paintings. Now we have a line of Pom jewelry (because people told me that they wanted to wear the Poms), Good Luck Pomigami Cranes, magnets, and even hair clips. We have an original Behold The Pom Song that is on You Tube and our short film “The Pomcumentary” is coming out at the pop up show at Michael Kors at the end of September. We are excited for the world premiere! The “pomsibilities” are endless.

A friend of mine said to me – “When you make a commitment, you really make a commitment”. I appreciate that – I created one Pom and then 365 Poms and then a whole Pom universe. I take an idea and execute it and make it real in the world and explore all of the pomsibilities – as long as I’m inspired.

Are there any important lessons you’ve learned that you can share with us?
I’ve learned so many lessons and I’m still learning lessons daily. The lesson that sticks out to me today is to follow my heart. When I am creating I am doing so from the heart, with no walls up, armor to protect me, or mind causing me to overanalyze. My hands are building through my heart and I have faith that what I create is beautiful, fun, and worthy. I am proud of myself.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.beholdthepom.com
• Instagram: @beholdthepom
• Facebook: Behold The Pom
• Youtube: https://youtu.be/mgDx0Y4FBU4?si=VRNlXSwSkXEHzpn3
• Other: https://give.abta.org/team/762189

Image Credits
Brandy Menefee, Bonnie Harris Hayden, Sara Jones