STAR — Starworks has been hosting its annual Firefest Festival since 2013. The two-day event is a celebration of the creativity and handmade craftsmanship that define what the organization dedicates itself to doing year-round.
Executive Director Joe Grant describes the event as inspirational and immersive thanks to the demonstrations, workshops and insightful talks offered by talented artists who have earned international acclaim for their creations in ceramics, glass and metal arts. An artist specializing in each of the three genres is invited to the festival each year to represent their art form, creating an opportunity “to let people know what their work is about,” Grant said. The optional hands-on workshops attendees can sign up for are an opportunity to learn about the materials and techniques each creative discipline requires to render its distinctive art forms.
The festival opens on Friday, April 3, at 1 p.m. with a guided tour of the approximately 16,000-square-foot facility, which was once a textile mill and has been converted into a studio and gallery space. “There’s tons of stuff to explore just walking around our campus,” Grant said, emphasizing that a visit to Starworks is worthwhile just to see the renovation and how the once-abandoned factory has found new life as a thriving center of creativity.
The first live demonstration kicks off at 1 p.m. on Friday, featuring a glass-blowing artist who will break the process down step-by-step, from heating the raw material to skillfully shaping its form and finally blowing the molten glass into a unique piece of art.
Ceramics is a big part of Firefest, with the event culminating in the unveiling of a large ceramic sculpture created by one artist each year. Bruce Dehnert has been chosen for this honor for 2026, and the reveal will take place between 8:45 and 9 p.m. Saturday night.
The kiln firing begins early on Friday to ensure there is time to complete what Grant calls “a long two-day process”, but preparation and design of the sculpture started approximately three weeks ago when Dehnert started working with the Starworks team to begin the process of building the sculpture so the clay would have adequate time to dry before firing.
It’s noteworthy that there is a clay manufacturing business within the Starworks building. This onsite access is instrumental in enabling ceramic artists to build large-scale sculptures.
Kid Draw is another festival tradition. It’s a contest open to area elementary school students, and entry forms are sent out in late February. The competition has enjoyed enthusiastic support from the community, evidenced by the large number of entries the Starworks team receives each year.
Eventually, five drawings are selected as finalists, and then the public votes for the winner. The student whose entry receives the most votes has their design recreated in glass during a live demonstration at 6.30 p.m. Friday evening.
Saturday is an eventful day with lots of activities to choose from, including talks by artists, live demonstrations, and hands-on workshops throughout the day. There will also be lots to see on Saturday evening. One highlight is a major glass demonstration by renowned artist Dan Friday, who hails from Seattle, to be held from 6-8 p.m. in what is known as “the hot shop”.
Grant contends the artist, who is a member of the Lummi Nation, is a “really interesting glass sculptor who’s taking traditional glass techniques and applying them to make really unique sculptural objects that explore the beauty of not only the material, but also the iconography of his ancestral-inspired art.” He goes on to describe Friday’s work as “beautifully narrative.”
As darkness falls, visitors will move outside to watch the iron pour into the scratch molds the team has made. The festival has always included a metals component, and this year’s metals artist is Elsa Hoffman. “She does this cool work that really walks the line between function and sculpture,” Grant said, describing her work as unique and beautiful.
Grant maintains the festival is something you must experience to truly appreciate. “I try to tell people about Firefest and about Starworks, but honestly, it’s not until you walk in the door that you really understand the scope of what’s going on.”
He acknowledges that, as with any nonprofit, the arts center is “always looking for the support of individuals and corporations.” Starworks is located in a rural location with limited industry in its immediate community. This makes garnering support from other areas especially vital so that Starworks can continue to offer its year-round workshops and other events.
For your information
In addition to all of the activities listed above, a full gallery exhibition will be on display. Food and beverages will be available on-site from a variety of food trucks, and visitors can enjoy live music performances.
Admission is $10 for adults. Children 12 and under are admitted free.
Dates and Times:
Friday, April 3
1-10 p.m.
Saturday, April 4
9:30 a.m. to 11 p.m.
Starworks
100 Russell Drive
Star, NC 27356
