Bill Capshaw: The Journey
January 4-25, 2019
Bill Capshaw: The Journey
Opening reception: Friday, January 4, 5:00-9:00 PM
Exhibition hours are Monday-Friday, 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM. Please note, the Emporium will be closed on Monday, January 21, for the holiday.
Artist statement: The works are representative of my life. As an artist, we focus on the piece on which we are working and try not to get to the end until the end reveals itself. At that time, you know it is complete, and the next piece now demands your full attention. Sometimes you know where to start; other times you have no idea. So you began to work, discover, create, manipulate, study, and attempt all those things that support your energy in making your art. Works represent my beginning and where I am now. There are many influences that have inspired me along the way: the many artists I know, my students, my teachers, and life. Emotionally-filled with so much information, yet not consumed by it. The good, bad, and unexplained continuously invade the thinking. And here we are today thinking about where we are heading now.
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 30 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, 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), Rodman Townsend Gallery, Johnson City Arts Council, Kingsport Fine Arts Center, Smithsonian Institute, Tennessee State Museum, Vanderbilt University, Joe L. Evins Appalachian Center for Crafts, and many others. His work is displayed and sold with Highland Craft Shop in Gatlinburg, Norris Craft Center, and Folk Art Center in Asheville. He is a member of Foothills Craft Guild, Southern Highlands Craft Guild, Appalachian Arts and Craft Center, and Tennessee Association of Craft Artists, at whose fairs he has held numerous demonstrations.