Opening September 10, 2026, 5-7pm, artist in attendance

Ths event will launch the pARTicipate Arts & Nature Festival

Painting With Fire – A Life In Clay

Judy Blake has pursued a quiet conversation with clay, smoke and
fire. This exhibition brings together work from across several decades,
revealing an enduring exploration of form, surface and the transformative
power of flame. Working with unglazed earthenware, Blake embraces
atmospheric firing techniques—including saggar-firing, sawdust-firing and
naked raku that allow smoke and fire to become active participants in the
creative process. Flames leave their traces, smoke drifts across burnished
surfaces and chance becomes an essential collaborator. No two pieces are
alike; each bears the unique imprint of its journey through fire.
Inspired by the beauty of the natural world, Blake’s vessels and
sculptural forms richly marked surfaces invite moments of stillness and
contemplation, speaking of resilience, mystery and the enduring beauty
found in simplicity.
Painting with Fire – A Life in Clay celebrates a lifetime devoted to
ceramics, where earth, smoke and flame come together to create objects
that are both timeless and deeply personal. This exhibition is a testament to
an artist’s life of looking closely, working patiently and discovering beauty in
the unpredictable gifts of fire.