Forged in Flame

The University of Regina has been home and host to numerous renowned ceramists. Martin Tagseth – a Saskatchewan-born “Fire God”- - returned in Spring 2023 to share his knowledge of woodfired ceramics. Using the kilns designed for and built on campus by Tagseth himself, this collection aims to continue the legacy of ceramics at U of R and to celebrate the artistry of fire.

Some pieces in this exhibition are by first-time clay artists. Other works were given life by more experienced ceramists, but few artists in the exhibition have exhibited before. All work is woodfired (i.e. hardened into ceramic in a wood-burning kiln heat as opposed to electric or gas) and we deliberately show studio pottery alongside sculptural ceramics to emphasize the importance of both studio skills and creativity in the artistic practice.

Clay bodies used include those developed by Martin Tagseth and Darcy Zink (now-retired Visual Arts technician at U of R) and specially designed to stand up to the intense heat of the beehive and train kilns on campus, as well as for their “flashing” effects. Flashing arises when minerals in the clay react with the fire to create colours without the use of glaze. Much of the work in the exhibition is unglazed for this reason, but pieces are nonetheless colourful and flame patterns/shadows are visible.

This exhibition is a celebration of the elements: fire, earth, air, and water – all required in woodfired ceramics. As artists, we each bring different strengths, values, and perspectives to our shared studio and exhibition spaces, which are made ever-more dynamic through our individual contributions.

Like the artworks exhibited, our connections -- our friendships -- have been Forged in Flame.