RELEASED: January 16, 2002

DANVILLE, KY-The Centre College Art Program will present a ceramics exhibit entitled "From the Flames." The exhibit will feature wood-fired pottery from an anagama dragon kiln. Visitors can view the show from Jan. 18 through Feb. 21 in the AEGON Gallery in the Jones Visual Arts Center on the Centre campus.

The public is invited to an opening reception on Jan. 18 from 4-6 p.m. in the gallery. Regular gallery hours are Monday-Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Students from professor Judith Pointer's ceramics classes and area Kentucky potters gathered this past fall to recreate the ancient Japanese practice of firing ceramic vessels in a wood-fired anagama kiln. “From the Flames” will showcase the works made at this time. When lit, the 30-foot one-chambered anagama kiln resembles a fiery dragon. The kiln was built in 1993 by art professor Stephen Powell and his students on the Mack Jackson farm in Boyle County.

Prior to a firing, artists place clay pieces deep into the widest part of the kiln's chamber. A raging fire is set at the front of the kiln, and the artists fuel the fire by adding wood through holes in the front and sides of the kiln. While the fire churns, ashes fly through the chamber and land on unglazed pots and vessels. The ceramic pieces glow as rushing flames and smoke billow through the back of the kiln, shooting wildly out of a tall chimney. As the fire intensifies to the searing hot temperatures of 2,300 degrees, flames surround the ash-covered pots and melt the ash into a natural glaze on each piece.

For more information, call (859) 238-5469

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