The Fire Arts Pathway
Collective outdoor exhibition
Performances, demonstrations, and conferences
Held in the context of Céramique à Way's Mills
From June 21st to July 1st, 10 AM to 6 PM
Vernissage: June 20th, 5 PM
Rozynski Art Centre
2133, chemin de Way's Mills
Barnston-Ouest (Québec) J0B 1C0
A Tribute to the Artists of Way’s Mills
At the turn of the 1960s, a community of artists from Montreal, working in metal and ceramics, emerged in the hamlet of Way's Mills. Comprised of Morton Rosengarten, Louise Doucet and Satoshi Saito (Doucet-Saito), Wanda Rozynska and Stanley “Buddy” Rozynski (Rozynska Pottery), they were later joined by George Foster. Together, they transformed Way's Mills into an exceptional place were, to this day, art merges with life.
By showcasing artists creating art with fire, this exhibition seeks to honour those who contributed to the establishment and development of Wanda and Buddy's studio and school, now the Rozynski Art Centre.
The Fire Arts
The fire arts are production activities based on the transformation of mineral materials by heat: rocks (metals), earth (clay) and sand (silica). First appearing in Mesopotamia over 4,000 years ago, they were perfected during the Bronze Age. Based on clay-firing kilns, furnaces were developed that could reach temperatures high enough to produce metal alloys. It was during this period that glass first appeared, made from molten sand. A Roman invention, glassblowing emerged later, some 2,000 years ago.
Today, the fire arts encompass craft and artistic practices related to ceramics, metallurgy, glassmaking and enameling. Although the artists participating in this exhibition work with different materials, they share a common passion for the transformation, through fire, of the fundamental materials of our planet.
Artists
Enamels on metal
Ceramics and Glass
Metals
Metals
Ceramics
Ceramics and Metals
Glass
Curator
Bruno Andrus, PhD, is a glassblower, art historian and independent researcher.
His artworks have been exhibited internationally and are now held in different museum collections. Throughout his career, Andrus has combined his passion for the arts and glassblowing with his scientific interests in history and anthropology. His current research-creation art practice, inspired by experimental archaeology, is geared towards investigating ancient molten glass technologies and techniques.
His master’s dissertation focuses on the history of glassblowing and fine crafts in Quebec. His doctoral thesis highlights the impact of Expo 67 on the international development of modern glass art. The technical expertise and the knowledge he has acquired has allowed him to publish, curate exhibitions, offer lectures, and educate on a variety of subjects.