Visitors are welcome for this “celebration of flame-based art and community”
From Alfred University,
ALFRED, NY — When sparks begin to rise, furnaces glow, and the rhythm of hammers, flame, and molten material fills the air. At Alfred University, this can only mean one thing: the return of Ring of Fire, an immersive, high-energy celebration of flame-based art and community.
Set against the backdrop of Alfred’s renowned art and engineering facilities, the 2026 Ring of Fire, set for this Saturday, April 11, from 2-7 p.m. on the Alfred University campus, invites visitors into a world where fire is not just a spectacle, but a tool for transformation. Events will be held in Cushing Alley, between Harder Hall and the Foundry/New York State College of Ceramics Physical Plant facilities.
Across the event, students, faculty, and technicians bring creative processes to life through live demonstrations in iron and aluminum casting, glass blowing, glass casting, neon bending, blacksmithing, raku demonstrations and more. The glow of kilns and the roar of furnaces create a shared atmosphere, both primal and innovative, where making becomes performance.
But Ring of Fire is not only something to watch, it’s something to experience. Guests are invited to take part in hands-on activities, including carving scratch blocks, demonstrations from the A.E. Crandall Hook & Ladder Company, and participating in Raku firings, where ceramics emerge dramatically from flames and smoke. These interactive opportunities reflect Alfred’s deep commitment to experiential learning, where knowledge is built through doing, and where the boundaries between artist, student, and visitor dissolve.
The event showcases the collaborative spirit at the heart of Alfred’s New York State College of Ceramics, School of Engineering and Art & Design. It is a moment when disciplines intersect, when art meets science, and when the campus opens itself fully to the surrounding community.
Following is a schedule of events for the 2026 Ring of Fire at Alfred University:
- 2:00 p.m. – Event Begins
- 2-7 p.m. – Kids Forging
- 2-4 p.m. – Scratch Molds are available for purchase for both Aluminum and Iron Pours
- 2:30-5 p.m. – Raku Glazing Available
- 3-5:30 p.m. – Raku Firing Begins
- 5-6 p.m. – FINAL Pick Up Aluminum and Iron Pieces
- 6–7 p.m. – FINAL Pick Up Raku Fired Pieces
- 7 p.m. – Event Ends
There will be food trucks at the event, as well as a free s’mores bar. The event is free and open to the public. There are charges for hands-on making activities— creating your own cast metal or Raku-fired pieces—cash payment only. Closed-toed shoes are recommended; dress for the weather.
For more information, please contact Amelia Overbye at overbye@alfred.edu or Carole Volpe at volpec@alfred.edu
