Discover the Upcoming Ceramic Art Exhibition: "Fire Watcher" by Pascual Arriaga

Porterville College is thrilled to announce our upcoming Art Gallery exhibition, Fire Watcher, featuring the evocative ceramic works of artist Pascual "Paco" Arriaga.

The exhibition runs from October 5th through October 29th, 2026, with a special opening reception on Monday, October 5th, from 12:00 PM to 4:00 PM.

"Finding Order in Clay"

For Arriaga, the ceramic studio serves as a vital refuge from a chaotic and unpredictable world. Within the quiet of the studio, time slows down and uncertainty gives way to control. Through the physical act of throwing, the world reduces to its essentials: clay, movement, pressure, and breath. The pottery wheel offers a temporary escape, allowing the maker to impose order on materials that are otherwise indifferent to human intentions.

Working with clay provides a way to construct an existence shaped by form, function, and beauty. While the artist cannot control the external world, he can meticulously shape what lies in his hands. Each vessel functions as a small act of resistance against chaos—a powerful reminder that even when life cannot be fully managed, something meaningful can still be created.

"What We Give: Surrendering to the Flame"

Historically, ceramic artists have placed "kiln gods" inside their studios as guardians of the firing process, standing witness to a transformation that the maker can begin but never completely control. Once a piece enters the kiln, human control is surrendered, and fire ultimately decides what survives.

Arriaga’s series, What We Give, represents an offering to that profound uncertainty. The exhibition explores several symbolic offerings:

• Iron: Symbolizing strength, labor, power, and endurance.
• Apple: Representing life, knowledge, temptation, and mortality.
• Bottles: Denoting consumption, escape, containment, and desire.
• COVID relief pack: Capturing survival, dependency, crisis, and institutional protection.
• Bowl of baby heads: Reflecting innocence, sacrifice, vulnerability, and the future.

These curated pieces are not prayers for perfection, but rather acts of surrender. As the kiln closes, the final transformation is left to the fire.

Exhibition Details

Dates: October 5th – October 29th, 2026

Opening Reception: Monday, October 5th, 2026, from 12:00 PM – 4:00 PM

Location: Porterville College Art Gallery

Gallery Hours: Monday through Thursday, 12:00 PM – 4:00 PM

Email Theodore Lyons at theodore.lyons@portervillecollege.edu form more information.

Join us at the Porterville College Art Gallery to experience this powerful exploration of control, surrender, and resilience.