Faces and Figures: Woman, Mother, Caregiver, and Artist, opening January 12, 2024 at the Firehouse Art Center, showcases the work of Ana Balzán, a figurative sculptor based in Longmont, Colorado. The collection celebrates life and humanity, offering a unique perspective as seen through the eyes and hands of Balzán. 

“Through the sculptural process, I explore my journey as a Woman, Mother, Caregiver and Artist. This includes moments where I was at my most breakable, but I reclaim them as moments of strength.” states Balzán. 

Balzán believes she is not alone in these difficult moments and she presents them as opportunities to collectively embrace “stories that transcend time, place, and circumstance.” Through “Faces and Figures”, Balzán encourages viewers to reclaim their own journey by addressing it head on and looking it right in the eyes.

“Kiln Kitchen”, opening January 12, 2024 at the Firehouse Art Center, celebrates the Firehouse Art Center’s diverse Ceramics community, and their culture of curiosity. 

“The exhibition title is multi-layered since “Kiln” is derived from the Latin word “culina” (kitchen), which also gives us the word “culinary”, and Kitchens are the places where people gather and create community. They are also places where chefs will innovate, experiment and collaborate and that is what we do in the Firehouse Ceramics Studio”. says Elaine Waterman, Executive Director of the Firehouse and self proclaimed ceramics dabbler. “I have learned so much from members during open studio. Everyone is so generous with their knowledge but also very supportive of experimentation”.

The exhibition contains a wide variety of works from conceptual ceramic forms, to more conventional functional forms, to technical expressions through glaze and surface treatments. The Ceramics Member showcase is open to all members to participate, allowing Firehouse guests to see artists that might not come through the normal channels of curating.