Distorted Wave. Eric Knoche, artist
Peer recognition was the starting point for the Connected by Fire: Woodfire Invitational, which brings together 19 artists from five countries at Blue Spiral 1 Gallery through June 23. The free show continues with an artist reception at 5 p.m. on Thursday, June 1.
Woodfiring is a relatively small discipline within the ceramic arts, so the contemporary community is extremely close-knit. Across the globe, woodfire practitioners are connected by a shared experience of smoke and sweat. What they lack in numbers, they make up for in passion, commitment and enthusiasm.
“The team at Blue Spiral and I came up with a core group of regional woodfire artists to serve as the main basis for the show and who would be providing the bulk of the work in the exhibition,” says curator Josh Copus. “From there I worked with those artists to come up with the list of invited artists from around the world. The choices seek to highlight the universal and interconnected lines of communication that have developed amongst woodfirers around the world.” The work shows the variety of marks fire creates on the clay surface. Like any language, each artist speaks with an individual accent, influenced by their region and their own unique history, bringing depth and diversity to the conversation.
“It’s exciting to be participating in an exhibition that focuses on this ancient, nuanced and highly idiosyncratic technique,” says woodfire artist Eric Knoche. “I invited Jeff Shapiro (Accord, New York) Tim Rowan (Stone Ridge, New York) and Kazuya Ishida (Imbe, Okayama, Japan)—all because I think they are making some of the most interesting woodfired ceramic work today.”
This show is held in association with the NC Mountains Pre-Conference PreHEAT (June 1–7) taking place before the International Woodfire Conference at STARworks in Star, NC (June 8–11). The organizers and participants share a common belief that fire is at the root of what it means to be human. Because woodfirers work with this ancient tool, they share a common language that transcends cultural barriers. This confluence of talent is a great way for Asheville to learn more about the long history of pottery in North Carolina.
Blue Spiral 1 Gallery is located at 38 Biltmore Avenue in Asheville. Hours are Monday through Saturday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and 12–5 p.m. on Sunday. For more information, visit bluespiral1.com or call 828.251.0202.
