By KERRY KRISEMAN
Public Relations Manager
‘Twas several weeks before the holidays
When all through Tampa Bay
Shoppers searched and searched
For the most perfect ways
To give the best gifts for those special days
Be it Christmas or Hanukkah
Or a party to attend
‘Tis the season for giving gifts
To family and friends
Equality through art is what we pursue
Our artists create art specifically for YOU
Art is meaningful, personal, and can always uplift
When you give for the holidays, choose art as your gift
You don’t need a reason
To give art this season
Your purchase supports us
And that’s a good enough reason
Shop at ArtWalk, our markets, in-person, or online
It’s guaranteed to leave you – and your recipient – feeling simply fine.
From now through the holidays, Creative Clay offers several ways to support its artists through the purchase of art. Art is a personal, unique, and meaningful gift, and Creative Clay gives shoppers multiple ways to buy artists’ work.
Creative Clay’s Good Folk Gallery in the Grand Central District of St. Petersburg provides an in-person shopping experience, Monday-Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and at Second Saturday ArtWalk. For online shoppers, the virtual gallery on its website makes art purchasing easy from a computer, tablet, or smart phone.
On the first Friday of each month during the school year, shoppers can enjoy a festive atmosphere at Friday Art Markets. Produced entirely by Creative Clay’s Transition Student Artists and Member Artists, the markets feature artwork, live music, a food truck, and theater.
For our Dec. 2 Art Market, join us at 10 a.m. for member artist vocal performances followed by a two-hour performance by local musician Deb Ruby. After that, enjoy performances from When the Tuba Shows Up, It’s a Party, a theatrical performance with music and dancing in partnership with Sparks Collaborative Ensemble. Artlink mentors from Sparks Collaborative Ensemble include Sheila Cowley, Paula Kramer, Stephanie Roberts, and Jan Neuberger. Following the performance, join us for a sing-along.
Creative Clay is also open during ArtWalk on Saturdays, Nov. 12 and Dec. 10, from 5 to 9 p.m. Surreal Surprise is the newest exhibit, which features surrealistic, and Salvador Dalí-inspired artwork by the Creative Clay’s participating artists. Coinciding with the exhibit, The Dalí Museum created greeting cards featuring our artists’ original surreal artwork, available for sale at the Museum Store. The original artwork appearing on the greeting cards are included in the exhibit.
Finally, Creative Clay is proud to announce that Creative Thrift, its in-house store for repurposed art supplies won Best Art Supply Store in Creative Loafing’s “Best of the Bay” contest. Creative Thrift offers craft items, frames, books, paint, fabric and more at pay-what-you-wish prices. Proceeds benefit Creative Clay’s programs that create equality through art. Creative Thrift is open Monday-Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Learn how Creative Clay creates quality through art, and how you can support their programs by visiting www.creativeclay.org. Follow Creative Clay on Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram @creativeclaystpete, and on Twitter @creativeclay.
About Creative Clay:
Creative Clay offers multi-disciplinary arts programs that provide opportunities for people with disabilities through the arts:
Community Arts Program – Serving adults, Monday through Friday
Transition – Serving 18–22-year-old Pinellas County School students, Monday through Friday throughout the school year.
Artlink – Offering apprenticeship opportunities for artists 18+ to partner with local professional artists and businesses
Creative Care – expressive arts workshops for people with obstacles to arts access, including but not limited to, people living in shelters and/or assisted living facilities.
Open Studio – Scholarship program for independent artists