The Sustaining Presence: Stalwarts of African American Contemporary Clay Online Exhibition

THE SUSTAINING PRESENCE
STALWARTS OF AFRICAN AMERICAN CONTEMPORARY CLAY

Online Invitational Exhibition Celebrating Black History Month

Guest Curated by Syd Carpenter

Online: February 1 – March 1, 2023

This February marks the 47th annual Black History Month, a celebration of the achievements and advancements of Black Americans who have contributed to the history of the United States. We are excited to honor Black History Month by providing an online invitational exhibition “The Sustaining Presence: Stalwarts of African American Contemporary Clay”, Guest Curated by Syd Carpenter. This exhibition celebrates Black ceramic artists from across the US, throughout February, with two of the works in the exhibition by Sana Musasama available to view in person in our gallery from February 1st to March 1st, 2023.

Guest Curator, Syd Carpenter states “The African diaspora has influenced globally diverse expressions in music, dance, theatre, literature and the visual arts for more than a century. From the majestic and poetic works of Dave Drake in the 19th century to celebrated works of Simone Leigh in the 21st, Black clay artists have been a consistent community of innovative clay productivity. From pure abstraction to explicit representations of the experience of being Black in America, the presence of Black artists is here represented by notable stalwarts who have continued to creatively enhance the field. Many beginning their careers in the late 60’s and early 70’s, their work reflects the ongoing vibrancy, technical brilliance and creative insight of this group of artists.”

View the exhibition online: https://www.clayartcenter.org/the-sustaining-presence-curated-by-syd-carpenter

Participating Artists include: Earline Green, Winnie Owens Hart, Malcolm Mobutu Smith, Sana Musasama, Bobby Scroggins, Kevin Snipes, and Lydia Thompson.