Fire Arts Center, a place where you could learn ceramics



ARCATA – The staff of Fire Arts will be exhibiting their new works at the Fire Arts Gallery through December. They will be hosting a reception during Arts! Arcata, Friday Dec. 9 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. The artists include Alder Gustafson, David Jordan, Elaine Y. Shore, Elizabeth P. Johnson, Jessica Swan, Natalia Meléndez Rosa, and Sophie Holderman.

“Our staff are a group of talented artists, each with a unique style and we are pleased to have their work in our gallery,” according to Elizabeth Johnson, the creative director. Her own paintings, which she has titled “Pandemic Series”, are a series of highly detailed and expressive pen and watercolor drawings inspired while spending time outdoors.

Gustafson’s work includes a number of functional, soda fired pieces, some with undulating surface decoration, reminiscent of a topological map.

Jordan creates sculptural forms that incorporate historical references, pieces with aquatic and animal representations, and functional ceramics and fused glass bowls.

Shore specializes in surface decoration techniques, including her black and white carved functional pieces and colorful, painted, and textured pieces.

Swan makes colorful, undulating pieces, some of which include 22K gold slugs. Meléndez Rosa’s pieces include pieces reflective of Pre-Columbian designs and Holderman’s pieces display her detailed drawings.

Fire Arts Center, located at 520 S. G St. in Arcata, across from the Arcata Marsh Interpretive Center, has been holding classes in ceramics and fused glass and providing studio space and kiln firing to the local community since 1999. Fire Arts is open every day and has a large selection of locally-made ceramic and fused glass pieces for sale all year. Classes are held all year and include day and evening classes for adults and children.