Ring of Fire at Alfred University showcases flame-based art

A student-driven event showcasing the power of fire in the creation of art will be held Saturday. Oct. 26, on the campus of Alfred University.

Alfred University's "Ring of Fire" will be held from 4-7 p.m. at various locations on Cushing Alley (behind Binns Merrill Hall), including the Outdoor Kiln Pavilion, Foundry, and Glass Hot Shop. Visitors to the event will experience demonstrations in iron and glass casting; blacksmithing, glass blowing, and neon, and will have interactive opportunities in Raku firing and aluminum casting.

"The Ring of Fire is a large-scale community event made to showcase the incredible world of flame-based arts," said Ben Buess, a senior fine arts major who also serves as an admissions ambassador for the New York State College of Ceramics at Alfred University. "My primary goal through putting on this event is to showcase the amazing possibilities within the tactile and combustive arts and, if we are lucky, maybe even to inspire somebody."

The campus community and public are invited to the free event, in which attendees will view and experience the creation of art in ceramics, glass, and metal. Visitors will have the opportunity to create art at this event through the purchase of scratch block molds for Aluminum casting as well as glaze-it-yourself ceramic objects for Raku. With Raku, glazed ceramics are taken from the kiln while they are still glowing red hot and are then placed in a flammable material, such as sawdust or newspaper. This technique is used to starve the piece of oxygen, which creates a myriad of colors within the glaze.

Three Alfred University student clubs-the Clay Collective, Sculpture Society, and Alfred Anvil- serve as primary participants/sponsors of the event. A percentage of all proceeds from the event will be donated to Alfred's A.E. Crandall Hook and Ladder Company, which will have a fire truck on hand. All additional proceeds will go toward providing opportunities for students within the arts.

Attendees will also have the opportunity to enjoy complimentary s'mores or to support a local business by purchasing a meal from one of the attending food trucks.

For more information, please scan the QR code in the image above.