4 0 - Y E A R S - WADE F. MACDONALD

4 0 Y E A R S F O R W A R D

Exhibition Title: 40 Years Forward

Inluded Artists:
James C. Watkins, Natalia Arbelaez, Stuart Gair, Olivia Tani, and Toni Losey

Dates: 1/24/25 - 2/21/25

Venue: UA Galleries at Dinah Washington Cultural Art Center, Tuscaloosa, AL

The exhibition 40 Years Forward commemorates the 40th anniversary of the Alabama Clay Conference—a milestone event that celebrates four decades of artistic excellence, education, and community within the ceramic arts. Presented at the UA Galleries at the Dinah Washington Cultural Arts Center, the exhibition features work by James Watkins, Stuart Gair, Olivia Tani, Toni Losey, and Natalia Arbelaez—five dynamic artists whose practices reflect the evolving landscape of contemporary ceramics.

This year’s conference holds particular significance as it marks the long-awaited return of the Alabama Clay Conference to Tuscaloosa. After more than two decades, the event’s homecoming acknowledges the University of Alabama’s historic role in shaping the state’s ceramics community. Tuscaloosa has long served as a hub for ceramic education, research, and practice—fostering generations of artists, educators, and advocates. Hosting the 40th annual conference in this setting reaffirms the city’s foundational place in Alabama’s clay narrative and reconnects attendees to the region’s legacy of making and mentorship
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Within this context, 40 Years Forward stands as a powerful symbol of continuity and progress. James Watkins’s expressive vessels, Stuart Gair’s refined forms, Olivia Tani’s architectural constructions, Toni Losey’s bold sculptural works, and Natalia Arbelaez’s narrative figures collectively showcase the range and vitality of contemporary ceramic expression. These artists bring forward-looking practices grounded in deep material inquiry, cultural reflection, and formal experimentation.

The exhibition honors the past while embracing the future—recognizing that the Alabama Clay Conference is not just a gathering, but a living tradition that continues to grow, challenge, and inspire. In returning to Tuscaloosa, 40 Years Forward invites reflection on where we have been and reaffirms a shared commitment to shaping what comes next.