CRAFTING BLACKNESS

Bill Capshaw

Vemara | Ceramic | Bill Capshaw
Ebony Man | Ceramic | Bill Capshaw | From the Collection of Carlton Wilkinson

Active: Oak Ridge (Anderson County)
Region: East
Medium: Ceramics / Clay
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Bill Capshaw

The heart of each piece comes from deep within the soul with the intent to pierce the mind with probing thoughts of the creative process. Classic forms are conceived using simple line work with basic shapes and design elements. Embellished surfaces and glaze decoration work together for contrast and emphasizing the compositional message. Each work has its own beginning and ending as is described by its visual imagery or by its own unique inscription.

Longtime professional potter Bill Capshaw created the 2017 Governor’s Arts Award. While similar in form, each award is a one-of-a-kind hand-crafted piece of Raku pottery. Capshaw was also invited to include works in the 2016 Governor’s and First Lady 6th Annual Holiday Open House.

Capshaw holds a BFA and MFA from East Tennessee State University, concentrating in ceramics and printing processes. He began teaching painting, drawing and pottery at the Oak Ridge Art Center and working as a file clerk for Union Carbide Company in 1977. His career highlights include Pottery Studio Chairperson, President of the Board of Directors of the Oak Ridge Art Center, and Division Site Manager for Information Management Services with Lockheed Martin Energy Systems. Named Artist of the Year in 1998 by the Arts Council of Greater Knoxville, Bill has taught or conducted workshops, Sportsman Club of Oak Ridge, Farragut High School, Ossoli Circle, Rose Center, Oak Ridge High School, Foothills Craft Guild, Oak Ridge Art Center, Norris Craft Center, Arrowmont, John C Campbell, Vanderbilt, Southern Highland Craft shops.

Capshaw’s professional works are in permanent collections of the Tennessee Arts Commission, Huntsville Museum of Art, and East Tennessee State University’s Slocumb Galleries. They are also with many private collectors, including the mayor of Naka Machi, Japan; former Mayor Victor Ashe, Knoxville; and former Mayor David Bradshaw, Oak Ridge, Selvia and Jan Peters, Poet Nikki Giovanni, Artist Bill Henry, Steve Turner Chrm Board Country Music Hall of Fame and Ben Hall Country Music Hall of Fame, and many other private collectors.

Capshaw is recipient of the BJC Distinguished Service Award, LMES President’s Award for Community Service and Artist of the Year from the Arts Council of Greater Knoxville.