BEDMINSTER, N.J. - s4story -- EXHIBITION: September 25–December 7, 2026

OPENING RECEPTION: Friday, September 25, 6:00–8:00 p.m.

BEDMINSTER, NJ — The Center for Contemporary Art is pleased to present Fired En Masse, an exhibition of large-scale ceramic works by eight New Jersey artists. Curated by John Reinking, the exhibition will be on view September 25 through December 7, 2026.

The public is invited to a free opening reception on Friday, September 25, from 6:00–8:00 p.m. at The Center for Contemporary Art in Bedminster.

Fired En Masse features Jennifer Evans Arbo (Green Brook), Kaileen Campbell (Bridgewater), Keiko Inouye (Bridgewater), Sarah Poluszny (Sergeantsville), Mike Reed (Milford), John Reinking (Pittstown), Alicia Ulmes (Dunellen), and Kimberly Hardiman Winnicky (Hampton).

The artists came together at The Kilnyard in Pittstown to build, load, and fire their large-scale works in a massive wood-burning kiln. The wood kiln is fired continuously for approximately 150 hours, consumes seven cords of wood, and reaches nearly 2,400 degrees.

More on S For Story

• Food Journal Magazine Focuses Its Los Angeles Dining Coverage Across Three Editorial Verticals
• Where Do Missouri Plane Crashes Really Happen? Not Where You'd Think
• From Traditional Labels to Green Labels: Eco-friendly Self-Adhesive Materials Open a New Trend in the Industry
• Brettney Perr Re-Releases The Resilience Journal as the Phoenix Edition
• LCC Asia Pacific Sponsors CubeSatPlus 2026 at UNSW Sydney

During the firing, flames, heat, wood ash, and the placement of each piece interact to create distinctive surfaces and effects that cannot be precisely replicated. The resulting works show the varied results of this demanding process.

Although the works were fired together, each reflects the artist's individual approach to form, scale, and surface. The exhibition also shows how a shared wood firing can produce dramatically different results.

Curator John Reinking earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Rutgers University's Mason Gross School of the Arts and a Master of Fine Arts from Marywood University. He is the Ceramics Program Director at The Center for Contemporary Art and an adjunct professor at Raritan Valley Community College. He has participated in nearly 150 exhibitions during the past 20 years, and his work is held in private and public collections.

Primarily a wood-fire potter, Reinking owns and operates The Kilnyard in Pittstown, New Jersey, where artists have access to workshops and several firing methods, including raku, soda, and a large anagama wood kiln.

More on S For Story

• Immortal Blessing written by Saravanan Kuppusamy is now here!
• When Science Collides With the Unknown: A Riveting Journey Across Dimensions, Destiny & the Unseen
• Real Estate Syndication Attorney Tilden Moschetti Releases The Real Estate Private Equity Blueprint
• 5X Gross Margin Improvement to Beat EPS Consensus; $54.6 Million 10-Year Contract Award Puts Cybersecurity Leader on Path to a $30 Million Run Rate
• Independent Colbert Packaging Thrives Amid Industrywide Consolidation

ABOUT THE CENTER FOR CONTEMPORARY ART

The Center for Contemporary Art is a nonprofit arts organization offering year-round visual arts education in ceramics, two-dimensional art, and mixed media for children, teens, and adults. Its galleries present contemporary regional, national, and international artists and are open to the public free of charge.

Fired En Masse will be on view at The Center for Contemporary Art, 2020 Burnt Mills Road, Bedminster, NJ. For gallery hours, additional information, or photographs, call 908-234-2345 or visit www.ccabedminster.org.

IMAGE CREDIT (From left to right) Kaileen Campbell, Grandma Sophie, ceramic. Mike Reed, Sentinel, ceramic. Jennifer Evans Arbo, Corpe Di Medusa, ceramic. Photograph courtesy of Artists.