Kilns of Alfred: Transactions with Fire

The theme of the exhibition is revealed through the lens of renowned photographer Brian Oglesbee. Large scale photographs document the personal kilns used by Alfred ceramic art luminaries and serve by analogy as individual portraits of the artists including Bob Turner, Val Cushing, Theodore Randall, William Parry, Wayne Higby, Anne Currier, John Gill, Andrea Gill, Walter McConnell, Linda Sikora, Linda Sormin, Matt Kelleher and Jonathan Hopp. These individuals have been or are currently associated with the art school at Alfred University.

The Kilns of Alfred: Tractions with Fire also features panoramic views of the Alfred University kiln rooms and includes seminal pieces of all the artist's ceramic work. In addition, important ceramic work from the staff of Alfred University's Ceramic Art Division as well as the visiting artist and MFA collections of the Museum will be on view. The art together with the striking images of the kilns give evidence that acknowledges the often hidden gap of action between clay and the enduring ceramic object. The exhibition offers refreshed comprehension of the poetic and magical title of ceramic artist Henry Varnum Poor's famous text: -From Mud to Immortality.