So, how does Creative Clay go about doing that?
Creative Clay helps guide member artists to their full potential through art studio mentorships, real-world job experiences, community partnerships, and teaching the skill of submitting artwork to gallery shows.
And none of this would be possible without the time, effort, and skills of valued volunteers and board members, as well as the support of their grantors, sponsors, and donors.
In this Year in Review you will find the story of a member artist’s confidence building journey through Creative Clay’s studios to winning second place in The Members’ Show at Florida CraftArt. You will briefly be taken through the 24 year sisterhood between Creative Clay and a similar organization in Japan. You will learn the value of a great community partner, and see how the Good Folk Gallery prepares member artists for a future in art. Plus you will recognize that an organization like Creative Clay is made more powerful through the people and organizations that support their mission.
I came straight to Creative Clay (after high school) because my brother knew a teacher that used to work there. He got me into Creative Clay because I did not have anything to do at home. I did not know a lot about art techniques, but I was sketching on my own. As I grew, I became more independent as an artist. It was hard at first because when I first started at Creative Clay, I used to only draw really small creatures. My first piece I did was small people. I sketched a little before I started, but not much.
I like both painting and drawing. I like all my colors that I put together when I paint. I like how they all pop out, all the colors. I never know what I am doing with it until it is finished. When it’s finished, I feel excited and comfortable with what I made. With painting I can move colors around with the paint, but with drawing with colored pencils I can create different shadows with different textures. When I make art, I like doing angels and landscapes. Sometimes I do both at the same time. I like the angels because one of my favorite movies is Tinker Bell. Her wings, the way they change different colors, inspires my art.
I like doing music and dance. I like all the movements I can see in shows. I like watching music videos because the movements inspire me. I also sing sometimes. I know I make people happy because the last time I performed everyone clapped along. It made me feel good and happy inside.
I want to try and expand my art and move it to different galleries. I have been in a lot of shows, and it makes me feel excited that people can see my stuff. My proudest moment is when I sell art. I like when people come to events like ArtWalk and ask about my art. I share my story about becoming an artist and what inspires my art and color choices. All of the colors I use inspire everybody and that makes me happy. I like when people ask me questions about my art.
I am most proud of my sculpture Winged Man which won second place at Florida CraftArt Member’s Exhibit. I did not know I was going to get second place until I got there. When I found out it made me feel happy. This is my first time getting second place prize in an art show. It made me feel proud.
The teachers inspire me because they continue to help me with the background colors. They also inspire me to try new things like clay. I enjoy using clay because it is fun. I love using my hands. I usually make animals and human figures.
My advice is if you say you aren’t an artist and I see your drawings I will tell you that you are an artist. That you can draw good. Don’t doubt your skill. I have a friend who doubts their art. She says she hasn’t sold anything, but it takes time to sell. I encourage her that she will get there one day. It takes time to grow your art. Just believe in what you do for your art.
The idea for this partnership was born in 2001, when Creative Clay representatives presented at a VSA Arts Conference in Taos, New Mexico about Creative Clay’s Artlink Apprenticeship program, a collaboration concept pairing a professional artist with an artist with a disability. In the audience were representatives from Able Art of Tokyo, who were interested in the idea and talked with the Creative Clay team about creating an Artlink program in Japan.
Each agency’s interest in the success of this type of programming and partnership became more real when In 2003, Grace Anne Alfiero, Danielle Sangita Rottenberg, Artlink Artist Sarah Ellen Smith, Artlink Artist David Williams and Jane Williams traveled to Japan to present the details of the Artlink program. This visit resulted in Tomoko Tano creating the Heart Art Link program in Takamatsu, St. Petersburg’s Sister City. That year, Creative Clay invited Heart Art Link to participate in an exhibit that was called Artlink Japan in St. Petersburg for the first collaboration exhibit at the Florida Craftsman Gallery, now Florida CraftArt, in fall of 2003.
After the program in Japan had some time to establish itself, in 2007, Heart Art Link Founder and Director, Tomoko Tano; Mayor of Takamatsu, Onishi Hideto; and several professional artists from Japan visited St. Petersburg to conduct workshops with the artists of Creative Clay. Remarkably, in 2010 Heart Art Link exhibited at the famous Setouchi International Art Triennale, during its inaugural year, exhibiting artwork from both art centers. Again, in 2013, Creative Clay, led by Artlink Manager Marcy Miller, CEO Kim Dohrman, and translator Yoko Nogami, hosted a Heart Art Link exhibit featuring a giant Rabbit Balloon sent from Heart Art Link that Creative Clay inflated outside on the sidewalk of their gallery on Central Avenue. Member artists added calligraphy to the balloon and returned it to Takamatsu where it was exhibited with its new collaborative additions. In 2016, Heart Art Link Takamatsu was again part of the much-revered Setouchi International Art Triennale.
In 2021, Creative Clay continued their Artlink Takamatsu-St. Petersburg collaboration with Heart Artlink Takamatsu in celebration of the 60th Anniversary of the Takamatsu-St. Petersburg Sister City Partnership with an exhibit of 30 pelican paintings in October 2021 and a Lion Dance in January 2022, both at the St. Petersburg Museum of History. October 14, 2021 was a very special day. Creative Clay was honored to have Consul-General Kazihiro Nakai of Japan attend this art opening on the very date of the 60th Anniversary of the Sister Cities’ inception. In Japan, Heart Art Link Takamatsu artists performed the Lion Dance in October 2021 and performed both the Lion Dance and exhibited the pelican paintings at the Setouchi International Art Triennale during March 2022. Both organizations wanted to make the 60th anniversary collaboration meaningful by sharing something special about their respective city. Creative Clay wanted to share images of St. Petersburg’s adopted mascot, the pelican, and Heart Art Link wanted to share their Lion Dance. The idea was that both organizations would participate in something that helped define each city.
During the celebration of 62 years of St. Petersburg and Takamatsu being Sister Cities, on October 7th 2023, dignitaries from St. Petersburg along with representatives of Takamatsu’s government visited Creative Clay to see our mission in action. Along with Takamatsu’s Mayor Onishi, the Japanese contingent included Yoshihito Shiraishi, Masayuki Nakagawa, Kazuya Hirata, and Mirako Kimura. The representatives enjoyed visiting Creative Clay’s Art Market and watching musical performances by our member artists. The visit concluded with a traditional exchange of gifts.
On October 30th, 2023, Tomoko Tano received the Cultural Encouragement Award from the city of Takamatsu. In her acceptance of the award, she
stated “The award is in relation to my continued work with the Takamatsu Art Link and as a board member to the Takamatsu art museum. I believe that it is an acknowledgement of the efforts put into not just the relationship between the nonprofit work and the artists but more so due to the cultural exchange we were able to do with Creative Clay.” The Heart Art Link program, in Japan, now has over 16 sites.
Our most recent collaborative project was initiated in the spring of 2024, when Heart Art Link and Creative Clay began a mail art project pairing 10 artists from each organization. The works were exhibited in Takamatsu from March 5-9, 2025. They will be exhibited at the St. Petersburg Museum of History in the Summer of 2025.
This cultural and artistic exchange between Creative Clay and Heart Art Link Takamatsu that has developed over the last 24 years is a beautiful thing that Creative Clay intends to expand and continue well into the future. The many exchanges through the years have helped everyone at Creative Clay grow as artists, leaders, and human beings.
The partnership between St. Petersburg Opera and Creative Clay began in the Spring of 2014 with an invitation to create artwork to complement the Opera Company’s production of West Side Story. The resulting artwork was exhibited in the Mirella Cimato Gallery for the summer of 2014. Creative Clay’s member artists prepared for the show by attending a rehearsal & performance, listening to the music, studying the stories and characters, looking at the costumes and sets, sketching ideas, and ultimately creating paintings inspired by the West Side Story
This extraordinary relationship started when Norm Smith served on Creative Clay’s board of directors while simultaneously serving as president on the board of the St. Petersburg Opera. “Seeing the remarkable results that the students obtained through art, he thought that a partnership between SPO and Creative Clay would be advantageous for the students” said Mirella Cimato, the gallery’s namesake and wife of Smith. An invitation from Maestro Sforzini to Creative Clay member artists was extended, the partnership began, and it has been in place ever since.
“During the years, the students have watched rehearsals of a variety of operas and created paintings accordingly. Their art is very much appreciated by visitors to our gallery” said Cimato. Mirella and the SPO even chose to continue working with Creative Clay artists during the 2020 covid shutdown to have an exhibit called “Summertime” in the gallery and on the St. Petersburg Opera’s website. Though the show was not themed to an opera, like the past exhibits, it kept both organizations active and connected to the public.
Creative Clay artists have created art inspired by SPO operas for over a decade and are excited to continue building the fantastic cooperative relationship that we have established with each other. Our member artists are currently creating work for St. Petersburg Opera’s upcoming production of Carmen, which will debut in June.
The ability to exhibit work outside of Creative Clay’s Good Folk Gallery helps our member artists achieve accessibility to our great community, a core part of our mission. Partnerships with organizations like SPO demonstrate that Creative Clay’s artists are part of an inclusive environment, one that embraces their work and welcomes them as integral parts of our great artistic community.
“Our long-working friendship is a beautiful expression of the value of interdisciplinary collaboration and community in the arts. It expands creative visions and enhances the lives of our artists and both organizations,” said Jody Bikoff, Creative Clay Director of Exhibitions.
2014 West Side Story inspired artwork
2016 South Pacific inspired artwork
2018 Music Man inspired artwork
2019 Pinocchio inspired artwork
2020 Summertime exhibit
2021 Pinocchio inspired artwork
2023 Fidelio inspired artwork
2024 Turandot inspired artwork
2024 Samson and Delilah inspired artwork
2025 Carmen inspired artwork (coming soon)
One of the great things about Creative Clay is the fact that they have an in-house gallery that is open to the public and every second Saturday they participate in St. Petersburg’s ArtWalk which allows member artists the opportunity to show their work to a broader audience.
The Good Folk Gallery is a gallery among many in St. Petersburg, but they claim to have Tampa Bay’s largest collection of original folk art for sale. The gallery hosts a new show every couple of months and features the best work of its studio artists. On special occasions you will find art from some of the best artists in town as well as work from other similar organizations from around the world.
The goal of the gallery is to provide inclusive opportunities and to teach member artists the processes of being a professional artist. The artists are taught how to submit work, to understand how commissions work, and how to price their art through The Good Folk Gallery. These professional skills allow the artists to submit and contribute work to other galleries in the area and builds a pathway for submitting work to shows abroad.
CEO Kim Dohrman explains “We submit the art to shows in the community and to our gallery, and we talk about what it means to have a commission and understand that they’re getting 50% of whatever they mark their art… We can talk about what goes into pricing the art. And then, what do you need to get to feel good about this?”
The Good Folk Gallery is not only a folk-art collector’s paradise, it is the best place for an emerging artist to get the hang of the professional process.
Q: What initially grabbed your attention about Creative Clay?
A: I loved the colors and joyous vibe…even before I thought about the population Creative Clay serves… artists with disabilities.
Q: What made you want to join the board and stay involved with Creative Clay all these years?
A: My wife, Willi, and I tend to support organizations that promote Art, Education, and Inclusion. Creative Clay pushed all those buttons. Beyond support, we become more deeply involved with 2-3 organizations that we find special. For me, Creative Clay falls into the “special” category. I also connected with Kim, the Executive Director. When I rolled off another board, Creative Clay was a natural successor board for me.
Q: How have you seen Creative Clay grow over the years?
A: It’s grown financially and stayed the course on the community it serves. It’s moved to larger quarters, which has allowed it to expand its programming. Creative Clay currently collaborates with several companies and not-for-profits who provide space for Creative Clay art throughout the City. Unfortunately, in the current political climate, the next growth spurt may have to wait.
Q: What are some of the most amazing artist-focused projects you’ve seen happen during your tenure at Creative Clay?
A: Artlink is a favorite, both locally and in collaboration with Sister City, Takamatsu, Japan. Matching up a Creative Clay member artist for an intensive one-onone with a professional artist, has created some very special art and entire events. Other projects were the early Folk Fests held out in the street. Creative Clay will replicate that vibe with a special 30-year Anniversary fundraiser in the fall at the St. Petersburg Coliseum. Art and folk music in a party atmosphere. Creative Clay’s mixed ability Summer Camp was also an exciting initiative, until the pandemic got in the way.
Q: What does Creative Clay mean to you and what do you think it means to the community?
A: To me, it means art, education, and inclusion under one roof. To the community at large, it’s a place to see (and buy) Folk Art in a joyous setting. To the member artists it serves, it means the world.
Jacqulyn Schuett first started working with Creative Clay when she served on our very first Folkfest Committee in 2007. She continued showing her support by volunteering and attending many of Creative Clay’s events throughout the last 18 years. Jacqulyn always had a commitment to community service, especially those organizations focused on the arts, education, and sciences. She worked with Arts, Theater, Outdoor, and educational organizations throughout her life. She traveled the world and found life to be a joyful spiritual journey. We always loved seeing her when she stopped by for a gallery visit or to attend our First Friday Art Market. She was gentle, easy to talk to, and radiant. “She brightened the spirits of everyone around her. She led a purposeful life, always striving to make the world a better place.” All of us at Creative Clay are thankful for Jacqulyn’s kindness and generosity and we are forever thankful to her for always remembering us.
If you would like to leave a legacy gift to Creative Clay through our Visionary Society, scan the QR code to the right.
Brenda Daniel
Cindy Broyles
Coastal Creative
Gina & Michael White
Hartford Insurance
Janet Carmody & Chris Bennett
Julie Kessel
Jung In Kang & Thomas Harrington
Mary & John Sweeny
Melanie & John Jackson
Michael Sedita
Sally Cash
The Franklin & Jennifer Moore Family Foundation
Alise Stricklett
Amanda Maloney
Amanda Reed
Amy May
Ann Ryan
Anne Q Pollack
Anthony Ateek
Audrey McConnell
Barbara Voglewede
Brenda Daniel
Charles Potter
Cindy Mason
Cindy Peacock
Constance Zimmer
Danielle Chard
Debora Heiss
Diohn Brancaleoni
Dr. Ellie Ward
Ellie Finehout
Erin O’Neill
Florence Search
Hassan Moussa
Irene Parietti
Jacqulyn Schuett
James Hoffman
Jane Fontaine
Jane Holloway
Janet Carmody
Jillian McBride
Joellen Wooten
John Vitale
Jose Lugaro
Julie Kessel
Karen Helsinger
Kim & Tim Church
Kim Brownell
Scan to Join the Good Folk Society Today.
Kim Dohrman
Krystle Pinzker
Kyle Hickey
Lauren Hanley
Leila Martini
Leslie Hanley
Manny Rosario-Santiago
Margo Sim
Mary & Terry Mooney
Melanie & John Jackson
Michael Sedita
Nancy Corlis
Natalie Fisher
Page Garrison
Patti LaVoy
Paul Williams
Richard Cortese
Robyn Rusignuolo
Sally Cash
Sarah Ateek
Scott Callison
Sean Kennedy
Shelby Meaders
Susan Jones Steele
Tammy Boldt
Therese Johnson
Tina Stafford
Tom Plummer
Willi Rudowsky & Hal Freedman
Yoko Nogami
THANKS TO ALL OF OUR SPONSORS, SUPPORTERS, AND GRANTORS
THANKS TO ALL OF OUR PARTNERS
Articles Gallery & Fine Art Services, Arts Axis Florida, Big Frog Custom T-Shirts & More, Black Crow Coffee Roasters, Dunedin Fine Art Center, Edge District, Firstnight St. Petersburg, Florida CraftArt, Florida Unique Abilities, Heart Art Link, Imagine Museum, Impossible Dream, James Museum of Western & Wildlife Art, Make Studio (Baltimore, MD), Morean Arts Center, Museum of Fine Arts, St. Petersburg, Pinellas County Schools, Raymond James Marketing, Sabal Palms Health & Rehabilitation, Sparks Creative Stories, St. Pete Beach Public Library, St. Pete Opera, St. Petersburg Museum of History, Sunken Gardens, Sunshine Senior Center, Tampa Museum of Art, The Dali, The Off-Central, Tyrone Square, Vertical Ventures
Scan to learn more about our partnerships
Deana Hawk and Greg Bauman of Black Crow Coffee Co. have partnered with Creative Clay since 2018. Creative Clay was invited to install had a huge exhibit featuring 40 Creative Clay Member Artists in their Old Northeast location at 722 2nd Street N in St. Petersburg. In 2019, Black Crow offered to provide Creative Clay with the Black Crow Coffee Roasters private coffee label, called Good Folk Coffee. Over the past decade, Deana and Greg have donated hundreds of bags of coffee to Creative Clay to sell at our Good Folk Gallery. They have also attended and served their coffee at many Creative Clay events over the past decade. In January of 2019, Teaching Artist Todd Frain and several member artists created a small mural at Black Crow’s Grand Central District location at 2157 1st Avenue South, just two blocks from Creative Clay.
Derek Berset of Comegys Insurance Agency recently posted this image and wrote:
I just had the most wonderful experience with Creative Clay in St. Petersburg! They drew a portrait of my dad and my daughter, and it turned out absolutely amazing. The level of detail and care they put into capturing such a special bond is truly inspiring.
A huge thank you to the talented artists at Creative Clay for bringing this memory to life. If you’re looking for meaningful, one-of-a-kind artwork, I highly recommend checking them out!
CONTRIBUTIONS
EXPENSES
Call for artists 2024!
Seeking professional teaching artists for one-on-one 3-month apprenticeships for artists with disabilities.
Scan the QR code to find out more.
REVENUE:
Program $360,987
Grants $137,590
Contributions $230,655
Total $729,232
EXPENSES:
Program $475,536
Fundraising $74,525
Operations $134,800
Total $684,861
Creative Clay held its first arts and music festival, Folkfest St. Pete in 2007. The festival was created to highlight folk artists and musicians from all over the country, while showcasing the artwork of Creative Clay’s member artists. Creative Clay celebrates 30 years of advocating and supporting artists with developmental disabilities. Featuring artists of all abilities at Good Folk Fest is paramount to highlighting Creative Clay’s value of inclusion. This year, under the name Good Folk Fest, Creative Clay brings back the event to the historic St. Petersburg Coliseum with the excitement of bringing folk art patrons and music lovers to celebrate 30 years of equality through art.
BROWSE OUR SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES
$25,000
• “Presented By (Your name and logo)” on all marketing collateral, posters, event signage, stage banner, slide show, radio & TV spots, and event t-shirts
• Your name and logo painted into the mural in our Good Folk Gallery
• You will receive 4 tickets, each good for one hands-on “make-and-take” art experience to distribute as you please to your invitees
• Your Logo prominently placed on Good Folk Fest T-Shirt
• 12 Good Folk Fest T-Shirts
• 12 VIP Tickets for Good Folk Fest
• Plus , you receive all non-overlapping Platinum benefits
$5,000
• 6 S ocial media posts sharing your support every other month on Facebook
• 2 Creative Clay member artist portraits for you, your employees or your clients
• Video from you sent to our email followers promoting your support of Creative Clay
• Your Logo on Good Folk Fest T-Shirt
• 6 Good Folk Fest T-Shirts
• 6 VIP Tickets for Good Folk Fest
• Full color 3/4 page program ad
$10,000
• 8 Social media posts sharing your support, one each quarter on Facebook and LinkedIn
• 4 Creative Clay member artist portraits for you, your employees or your clients
• Video from you sent to our email followers promoting your support of Creative Clay
• Your Logo on Good Folk Fest T-Shirt
• 8 Good Folk Fest T-Shirts
• 8 VIP Tickets for Good Folk Fest
• Full color full page program ad
SILVER SPONSOR
$2,500
• 4 S ocial media posts, one per quarter, sharing your support on Facebook
• Your Logo on Good Folk Fest T-Shirt
• 4 Good Folk Fest T-Shirts
• 4 VIP Tickets for Good Folk Fest
• Full color 1/2 page program ad
BRONZE SPONSOR
$1,250
• 2 S ocial media posts sharing your support every six months on Facebook
• Your name on Good Folk Fest T-Shirt
• 2 Good Folk Fest T-Shirts
• 2 VIP Tickets for Good Folk Fest
• Full color 1/4 page program ad SPONSORS OF ALL LEVELS RECEIVE:
• Logo & link on website
• Logo on monthly e-newsletter
• Logo on event invitation
• Logo in event slideshow
• Logo in next year’s sponsor package
• Logo in our annual report
