Asheville In Atlanta 2004

MudFire Gallery teams up again with curator Kyle Carpenter in September for "Asheville in Atlanta 2004." This year's show offers an all-new roster of artists from Asheville, North Carolina, a small city known internationally as a pottery power-house. The exhibit and sale will open with an artist reception on Friday September 17 from 6-10pm, and will continue through October 16, 2004.

Kyle Carpenter - Artist Statement

Kyle Carpenter lives and maintains a studio in the beautiful mountains of North Carolina. Kyle attended the University of North Carolina at Asheville, where here received his Bachelor of Fine Arts in Ceramics in 2000. There he studied drawing, painting, printmaking, photography, sculpture, and ceramics. After graduating UNCA, Kyle went to work for Highwater Clays, a local clay manufacturer. In the past few years, Kyle has been fortunate to be able to teach at the high school and technical college level. He is now a full time functional potter in Asheville, NC.

Kyle Carpenter's pots are salt-fired and are made for the hand and home. His inspiration comes from simplistic forms in nature. Principles of design, such as balance, unity, and contrast are evident throughout his work. This comes from his formal training as an artist. His pottery is also focused on utility. The interaction one can have with a handmade object is sacred.

"I really enjoy bringing something handmade into a person's daily life, and like thinking about someone who uses one of my mugs or bowls every morning for breakfast. They can study it daily, always finding new reasons to love it hidden within the myriad details and atmospheric variations." .