ROCKFORD, Ill. (WIFR) – Inferno Clay Studio and Gallery Space is a new women-led, artist-run, nonprofit business ceramic studio in Rockford.
A building that was once Noah’s Ark Animal Clinic, 125 S. Madison St., is now a soft pastel welcoming space for artists.
Inferno is Alyssa Noonen and Emily Rangel-Cascio’s passion project. They announced the project at Spring Art Scene 2023. Their mission is to make ceramic arts in Rockford more accessible.
Noonen earned a BFA in Ceramics from Northern Illinois University (NIU) in 2020. Rangel-Cascio earned a BFA and MFA in Ceramics from NIU in 2015 and 2019.
Rangel-Cascio says this is a space she wished she had after college. She also says, “Having an emotionally psychologically safe place to work where your ideas aren’t shot down, that major in any craft in any art that.”
Inferno held a fundraising event over the summer. The over $5,000 dollars raised went towards adding tools to the studio for community use.
The process for setting up the space was a complicated but short one. Noonen says, “We had looked at the place for the first time in November, a couple of months ago, got the keys December 3rd, last month and then it took a couple of weeks.”
There were six spots available for artists residents but all six have been filled. The resident spots are meant to help artists work at their own pace and have access to professional equipment.
Rangel-Cascio says, “We paid for our spots as well. So, there are four people, and it doesn’t seem like a lot of people that you need but it’s like this is truly a collaborative project, like them paying for their space and us paying for our spaces is paying the rent.”
The ladies gave Infernos residents their keys on January 1.
Resident artist Karen Evans says,” It’s everything, I’ve been involved in ceramics for quite a long time, and we always need more spaces. Ceramics isn’t one of those arts that is easy to do at home.”
Though the artist residencies are full, classes and other special nights for clay workers will be held in the future. The first Inferno clay club will be held on January 24 for all members of the local arts community.
Inferno also offers a community kiln. The kiln was generously donated to the business. Noonen and Rangel-Cascio say this is for them to worry about the maintenance and cleaning so the artists can focus on making art.
Community kiln firings are held twice a month. Bisque is held the first Monday of each month and the glaze is held the third Monday of each month, you can RSVP here.
The studio will hold a soft launch on February 8, and its grand opening on February 15.
To support Inferno, you can donate on its website Inferno Clay Studio NFP —Inferno Clay Studio NFP.
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