The University of Iowa School of Art and Art History will present a lecture from UI professor emeritus Charles Hindes, “Wood-fire and Smoke-firing Aesthetics and Techniques,” at 6 p.m. Monday, March 24, in Room 1415 of Studio Arts Building.

Hindes taught ceramics at the UI for more than 20 years. He received a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the University of Illinois, and a Master of Fine Arts from the Rhode Island School of Design. He has received National Endowment for the Arts grants from the Archie Bray Foundation as well as the Craftsman's Fellowship. His work can be found in numerous public and private collections, including the Renwick Gallery of the Smithsonian Museum, Washington, D.C.

The Japanese aesthetic, which views imperfection as a form of beauty, has been the main inspiration for Hindes’ work. He feels his pieces are enriched by the technique of wood firing.

“Wood firing has enhanced my work by providing a palette of colors and surface textures that strengthen my forms visually, rather than covering them with a superficial skin,” he says. “It draws the inherent colors in the clay to the surface where they form patterns. The intense interaction of fire and clay permanently etches the color into the pot. The resulting patterns of color and textures create a lasting visual record of the wood firing.”

The School of Art and Art History is part of the UI College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.

Individuals with disabilities are encouraged to attend all UI-sponsored events. If you are a person with a disability who requires an accommodation in order to participate in this program, contact the School of Art and Art History, 150 ABW, in advance at 319-335-1376.