Feb. 22, 2013
For Immediate Release
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| At the Campbellsville University anagama firing exhibit were from left: Davie Reneau, CU assistant professor of art; Wayne Ferguson, artist from Louisville, Ky., and Suzanne Renfrow, a potter from Morgantown, Ky. The three have fired many kilns throughout the last 20 years or so. (Campbellsville University Photo by Ye Wei “Vicky”)
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By Lucas Pennington, student news writer
CAMPBELLSVILLE, Ky.—Campbellsville University’s department of art is holding a showing of the anagama kiln firing done over fall break 2012 through an exhibit that ends March 14 at the Pence-Chowning Art Gallery at 205 University Drive, Campbellsville.
The artwork being displayed will be from several artists; however, the guest artist is Wayne Ferguson of Louisville, Ky.
Ferguson said, “The most important aspect of my role as an artist has been sharing skills, expertise and opinions with others. My students range from senior citizens to juvenile offenders to elementary school children.”
Ferguson is an artist who has displayed at The J.B Speed Art Museum in Louisville and the Huntington Museum in Huntington, W.Va. Ferguson’s education background includes the University of Kentucky, the United States Air Force and Edgecliff College located in Cincinnati, Ohio.
Ferguson has been given several awards including the Brown-Forman Times Scholarship, the Kentucky Guild Members’ Award, the KET Auction Best Clay of show, the Kentucky Arts Council Al Smith Fellowship and the Rude Olsolnik Award.
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| Davie Reneau, left, CU assistant professor of art, and Renee Renfro, a senior at Campbellsville University, work on the anagama kiln at Reneau’s house in the fall. (Campbellsville University Photo by Lucas Pennington)
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Davie Reneau, Campbellsville University assistant professor of art, said, “The first time I fired an anagama kiln, I knew I had found my path.”
During fall break 2012, Reneau and several artists worked with the anagama kiln which is a Japanese pottery kiln that utilizes wood ash to glaze pottery. The anagama kiln consists of a long chamber for firing and several ports for adding wood. There is a firebox on one end and a tall flue on the other. Firing time lasts a few days or several weeks, making it a group firing experience.
The kiln was built at Reneau’s home in Glasgow. The artists made various pieces, and Reneau said the energy of all the people working together helped her find the joy in the work.
“The sharing of labor, food and experience is what it is about. Beautiful, finished pots are the icing on the cake,” she said.
There will also be three CU students with artwork on display; Renee Renfro, a senior of Campbellsville, Ky.; and Margaret Gillispie and Dwight Renfro, both from Campbellsville, Ky., who are auditing the class.
Patti Rice, the Caverna High School art teacher, brought work from five of her students from the high school. The five students who will have work on display at the gallery are Nicholas Hall, Lauren Reed, Haley Cooke, Austin Gipson and Alexius Woodard.
Other guests attending include Rob Witt and Will McComb, two artists who are hoping to go to graduate school, and Suzanne Renfrow.
Ferguson said, “So the hands still love the touch of the clay, the soul continues a kinship with the alchemy of heat and fire and the heart is bound with those hearty brothers and sisters who call themselves potters, ceramists or clay artists . . . I am honored to be a member of that family . . . the clay family.”
The exhibit will be open until March 14, but it will be closed for spring break March 4-8.
Campbellsville University is a widely acclaimed Kentucky-based Christian university with more than 3,600 students offering 63 undergraduate options, 17 master’s degrees, five postgraduate areas and eight pre-professional programs. The website for complete information is campbellsville.edu.
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