NEWS
04/05/2017 Tornados in Alabama y'all! NCECA 2017 was an incredible experience. I feel honored to have been included in the show "Tactic." This exhibition was in the convention center and was very well attended. I am also very grateful for the support on the drive to and from Portland from Linda Lopez, Mathew McConnell, Rain Harris, Matt Mitros, Sydney Ewerth, Anne Herbert, and Cory Bluemling. The drive was beautiful, dramatic,and traumatic. I will not soon forget this adventure. Many more adventures to come! 02/09/2017 The exhibition "Sweet Metal and the Road" opened last Friday, February 3rd at Harrison Galleries in Tuscaloosa. The turnout was unexpected; many people were there to show their support. "Sweet Metal and the Road" is a two-person exhibition with Anne Herbert. Check out the link on my press page for more information. This month, I am participating in an exhibition that is part of the ALCC (Alabama Clay Conference.) It is a student/teacher exhibition. I'm excited to exhibit alongside some of our talented students and Assistant Professor Matt Mitros. I have also received more information about the exhibition at NCECA this year; it is entitled "TACTIC" and will take place at the Oregon Convention Center. 01/06/2017 Its a new year and that means new news concerning the goings on in the wfmceramics world. It was a busy December. After four final critiques at The University of Alabama, I loaded up the new piece "Dark Cloud/Unknowable Architectures" and headed out in the dark of early morning to Snowmass Village, Colorado. It took approximately 35 hours to drive to Anderson Ranch. I met with my good friend Emerson John, the now former sculpture studio coordinator. Together we installed the exhibition entitled "Reflections on Synthetic Action" in the Patton-Malott Gallery. In my completely unbiased opinion, the show makes a powerful statement about the strength of the ARAC residency program. The work pushes boundaries and the exhibition feels cohesive, while individual works relay their intended concepts and content to viewers. So many boundaries have been pushed that there has been pushback from the ranch. The exhibition has acted as a catalyst, exposing inconsistancies in ARAC exhibition policies. In short, it is extremely unfortunate and disheartening when artists are not allowed to express themselves. The dialog is ongoing and if you want more information about the situation, feel free to contact me directly. I care about ARAC deeply and I feel a profound sense of concern for the future of the ranch. Currently, I have a piece in an exhibition at Jacksonville State University organized by ceramics faculty member John Oles. In February, I will have a two-person show with Anne Herbert at Harrison Gallery in Tuscaloosa. I am looking forward to showing with Anne. Also in February, I will participate in a student/teacher exhibition organized by the Alabama Clay Conference. March is NCECA and I am planning on going. I will have a piece in an exhibition. I'm still waiting for details on this last item. 11/20/2016 Please be on the look out for the "Reflections on Synthetic Action" exhibition announcement that will be taking place at Anderson Ranch Art Center this December. I hit the road for ARAC on December 10th to drop my piece off and assist with the installation. I've also been invited to participate in an exhibition of sculpture ceramics at Jacksonville State University opening in January 2017. 10/11/2016 Today, I am transporting the Advanced Ceramics class to the Brian Harper lecture and Southern Mississippi Ceramics National Exhibition opening at the University of Southern Mississippi. Tomorrow, I am participating in National Clay Week through participation in a live streaming broadcast with Matt Mitros to discuss the process of collaboration. Many other artists are participating including Matt Ziemke and Brian Czibesz. 9/18/2016 Many things are afoot. I will be participating in National Clay Week during the collaborate feature with Matt Mitros in October. This summer I worked on an exhibition proposal with Julie Malen that would feature artists from our residency group at Anderson Ranch Art Center. The proposal was accepted and we will be showing this December (more details to come.) I also dropped my piece off for the Southern Mississippi Ceramics National. The space is beautiful and promises to represent a wide range of contemporary ceramic practices. 8/29/2016 The semester has begun. I have been accepted to the Ceramics National at Southern Mississippi University. I'm excited to participate in this exhibition juried by Brian Harper. This should be a good one! 6/17/2016 The Clay Studio National has been extended for several days and I have been included in a residency group at Red Lodge in Montana next June. The group includes: Matt Mitros, Julie Malen, Jason Hackett, John Byrd, and Matt Ziemke. Extremely excited to work along side such a diverse range of talented artists! 4/12/2016 My Art Axis page is up. Check it out here: http://artaxis.org/wade-folger-macdonald/ Also, I was recently accepted to the Clay Studio National at the Clay Studio Philadelphia. Thanks for the continued support! 3/28/2016 The new ceramic 3d printers are working non-stop here at The University of Alabama ceramics lab. Check out the new video produced by the Admissions Department that features our new technology. The link is located under the "Press" page. 3/9/2016 The empty bowls project with the University Presbyterian Church was a complete success. We raised close to 3K to feed those in the area who need food assistance. Please check out the press release on the press page of this site! 1/19/16 I am honored to announce that I received "Best of Show" at the Art of the State Exhibition. "Art of the State" is a collection of works by Alabama Faculty Members. The show is currently on view at the Tennessee Valley Museum of Art in Tuscumbia, AL. Thank you all for your continued support. 10/7/15 This Saturday is Homecoming at The University of Alabama. Each year the College of Arts and Sciences showcases current research for the general public. This year, several advanced students and instructors will give wheel-throwing demonstrations. It should be a good time for all. The event begins at 1pm at Denny Chimes and will end around 4pm. Please come by and check out the action! Advanced ceramic work will be on view. 9/16/15 Roll Tide! The Semester is off to a good start. I am on my way to pick up my piece from Workhouse Clay National tomorrow! The 2015 work is slowly making its way to the website. Thanks for all of the continued support. 5/8/15 I have returned from Anderson Ranch Art Center and I am readjusting to a life in the Midwest. The experience there was life changing and working along side such a diverse ranch of talented individuals has informed my practice dramatically. Several major ventures are occurring this summer: 1. I will be moving my work space to an industrial site in Kalamazoo, Michigan. It is a pleasure to temporarily join the vibrant ceramics community in that area and I look forward to making many connections to artists and designers there. 2. Necessary preparations have begun for my next residency in Gimhae, South Korea in September 3. Pieces from Anderson Ranch and Banff Centre and almost finished. I expect that the new body of work will be ready by the end of the summer. 4. I am waiting to hear from many jobs, residencies, and exhibitions. I will update the site as news arrives. 5. I will give a talk at the Kalamazoo Institute of Arts this next week which is a very special opportunity because of the overwhelming support I have recieved over the years from the KIA.. 02/9/15 I made it through the mountain pass and arrived at Anderson Ranch Art Center on the evening of the February 4th. It has been an exciting time already. The food has been outstanding and the weather has been great (not for skiers). I am settling into my studio space that is in the "Long Studio," the oldest building at ARAC. Special thanks to Josh and Monica Rohs and Andy Gallas for putting me up on the way out to Aspen. 01/03/15 The opening at LINC - Grand Rapids last night was well attended. Amazing music, food, and poetry. Thanks to Hugo Claudin for giving me the opportunity to participate as the artist of the month. 11/05/14 The website has been updated! Enjoy. I appreciate your patience while i continue to update, add, and repair. 10/27/14 I arrived in Michigan after traveling about 30 hours from Banff Centre in Banff, Alberta. I feel extremely fortunate to have made so many new friends on my travels and I am going through mountain withdrawal already. I am doing a short ceramics workshop at Paw Paw High School next week then headed to NYC on Nov. 19th. 10/18/14 Some recent additions to the website: Form & Fire tab contains all of the information related to the project at Banff Centre. There are also video updates from my time here as well as a new video from MSU's College of Arts and Letters. Check it out! 10/13/14 Greetings, much of the news of the last two months can be seen on the Form & Fire page that I have added to the menu bar. This page contains all information about my project/residency at Banff Centre in Alberta, Canada which is in progress and will end on October 25th, 2014. There is much happening here at the Banff Centre and the experience has been extraordinary. With two weeks to go, I have finished working with wet clay and am concentrating on firing and color. Because each firing has an additional studio fee attached, I am only going to glaze fire a few pieces. The goal of the residency is to complete six sculptures, hence the title of the project "Form & Fire: 6@Banff. The six pieces have been made and there are several more pieces to add to that number including a series of 2d works. I hope to have a short video update ready by the end of the day. Please stay tuned. Thanks to all of the backers of my Kickstarter campaign! I am extremely grateful. Rewards for funding are scheduled to be shipped after the holidays in January. Thanks 08/21/14 Summer is coming to a close, oh my. I have just returned from another lengthy drive to NYC to pick up the piece from First Street Gallery in Chelsea. The exhibition Master Pieces 8 in Cincinnati has also come to a close. I am getting ready for the Banff Residency and have launched a Kickstarter campaign to help with funding. Stay tuned for updates. Also, I am honored to be the recipient of the Chris Clarke Fellowship offered by the Arts Council of Greater Lansing. The fellowship will pay for the residency at Anderson Ranch Art Center in February. 07/31/14 Lots of driving this month and everything is installed! I will already be headed back to Cincinnati to pick up in a week! 07/12/14 Well, things have been extremely busy as of late. Last week I moved my house, my storage unit, and my studio and also made a delivery of a very large piece to Manifest Gallery to Cincinnati. The moving is almost complete and I am looking forward to settling in to our place in Grand Rapids. Many things have taken place since my last entry: 1. Accepted to Manifest Gallery 8th Annual Master Pieces National MFA Exhibition in Cincinnati, OH 2. Accepted to First Street Gallery National MFA Competition in New York, NY 3. Awarded Banff Centre's Fall Artist in Residence for September through October 4. I will join a panel at this year's FATE conference at Indiana University, Herron School of Art. The panel discussion is entitled "Masters of Foundations" and should be a lively and informative discussion about the role teaching plays in graduate education. 5. I have a one day workshop scheduled for July 19th at the Greater Lansing Potters' Guild 6. Accepted to Anderson Ranch Artist in Residence for February through April 2015. Thank you all for your continued support! XO 06/10/14 Accepted to 4th Annual Workhouse Clay National Exhibition juried by Richard Notkin. Opens at the end of July in Lorton, VA |