New monthly art series kicks off in September
By Jeaneane Payne

A new monthly series featuring artists' works will also discuss their inspirations and processes. Entitled "Time Well Spent: Inspiration at Lunch" this series is free and open to the public. Guests are invited to bring a "Brown Bag" lunch and enjoy interactive presentations beginning at 12:00 noon at the Emporium Center, 100 S. Gay Street, in downtown Knoxville. Parking is available at metered spots on the Gay Street viaduct or in the parking lot of Jackson Avenue caddy-corner from the Emporium.

Oak Ridge ceramic artist Bill Capshaw will be the first presenter at "Time Well Spent: Inspiration at Lunch"

The first presenter in the series is Oak Ridge ceramic artist Bill Capshaw who will bring a portable kiln to demonstrate some of his techniques on Wednesday, September 19 from 12:00 noon to 1:00 p.m.

Bill Capshaw earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Ceramics in 1971 and a Master of Fine Arts in Printing Processes in 1974 from East Tennessee State University. He worked for Bechtel Jacobs Company LLC from 1977-2007 as a Government Printing Office Specialist as well as served as an adjunct faculty member at Pellissippi State Technical Community College.

For more than 20 years, he has served as Pottery Chair and Instructor of the Oak Ridge Art Center. Capshaw has volunteered with the Tennessee Arts Commission to review grant applications for At-Risk Youth and other grant programs. He has conducted workshops at the Appalachian Center for Craft, Arrowmont School, Joe L Evins Craft Center, Smithville, Tenn., John C Campbell School of Crafts, Brasstown, North Carolina, Vanderbilt University, Virginia Intermont College, Oak Ridge Art Center, Children's Museum of Oak Ridge, and various area middle and high schools. Capshaw's works have been included in the Governor's Inaugural Ball, countless fundraisers, private collections, and permanent collections such as ETSU Slocum Gallery, Tennessee Arts Commission, and Huntsville Fine Arts Museum. He has had solo and group shows with Blue Spiral 1 (Asheville), Emporium Center, Johnson City Arts Council, Kingsport Fine Arts Center, Smithsonian, Tennessee State Museum, Vanderbilt University, Joe L. Evins Appalachian Center for Crafts, and many others.

His work is displayed and sold with Arrowcraft Shop in Gatlinburg. Capshaw is a member of the Foothills Craft Guild, Southern Highlands Craft Guild, and Tennessee Association of Craft Artists, at whose fairs he has held numerous demonstrations. "The heart of each piece comes from deep within the soul, intending to pierce the mind with the creative process," says Bill Capshaw. "Every work has its own beginning and ending as is described by its visual imagery or unique inscription."

Upcoming presentations in the "Time Well Spent" series (Wednesdays at 12:00 PM): October 17 – Geri Forkner, fiber
November 14 – Marcia Goldenstein & Jean Hess, painting/collage; discussion of their exhibition in the Emporium
December 12 – Ann Lacava, jewelry
January 16 – Fritz Massaquoi, fiber/weaving
February 13 – Dennis Sabo, photography
March 13 – Bobbie Crews, painting; discussion of exhibition in the Emporium

Published September 3, 2012