In May of this year, the ceramics department at Flathead Valley Community College held a "Ceramics Festiva", a four-day event with the theme of "Alternative Firing" that brought in guest artists from around the country. In conjunction with workshops and firings that brought in students for this productive event, the guest artists were able to share their techniques and methods with students and artists alike.

Exhibiting artists from the Ceramics Festiva conference include: Stephen Braun, Bryce Brisco, Craig Clifford, Charles Davis, Curt Jacobson, Robert Markle, Karl McDade, Randi O'Brien, Vernon Patrick, Esther Shimazu, Dennis Sipiorski, David Scott Smith, Shalene Valenzuela

This exhibit includes an alternative firing methods educational exhibit featuring work by Missoula artist Orville Chigbrow. Orville will be presenting a number of pieces with in depth descriptions of what "alternative" methods he used in creating the works, ranging from putting works in the barbeque, using aluminum foil saggars, and soaking works in tea and coffee.