Creative Clay Annual Report 2019

CREATIVE CLAY 2019 ANNUAL REPORT

Creative Clay’s mission is to help people with disabilities achieve full and inclusive lives through access to the arts by providing expressive, educational and vocational experiences.

GOOD FOLK LIKE YOU MAKE CREATIVE CLAY GREAT

YOU ARE TRANSFORMING LIVES… "Creative Clay has helped me become a hard worker so I can be successful with my art. I think my artwork has gotten much better since I started here last year and I am more professional.” – James C. Beck James C. Beck Jr.’s journey with Creative Clay started in 2018 when he began in the Transition program, a partnership with Pinellas County Schools. According to Amanda Drewes, his instructor, “He kept to himself and was not at all social with his peers or any customers that would visit the gallery. He was very shy and usually wouldn't look people in the eye. In the past year, we've seen James evolve.”

James is now a very sociable individual who expresses pride in his work. His dedication to his pursuit of a career in the arts has led to several substantial accomplishments. In the past year, Bees Learning commissioned James to create the artwork for their company bus, and Top Local Chef 2019 gave four of his paintings to contestants as their awards. In addition, First Night St. Pete organizers hired James to create portraits of attendees, the Grand Central District Association chose James’ holiday greeting card design to send to its membership of 150 businesses, and James’ art was chosen for the cover of Arts4All Florida’s 2019 Calendar sponsored and distributed by Regions Bank.

James’ achievements over the past year, and his realization that he can successfully talk about his artwork with customers, has given him a new confidence and desire to work during every art exhibit and festival possible. He is proud of his achievements and is currently a participant in Creative Clay’s arts vocational internship program. His work is now for sale at St. Petersburg’s Museum of Fine Arts Museum Store, as well as Creative Clay’s Good Folk Gallery.

TRANSITION serves eight young adults with disabilities daily, age 18-22. Funded by The Pinellas County School Board and J. Crayton Pruitt Foundation. 2020 is the partnership’s 11th year.

Cover photos by: Summer Kluytman

YOU ARE BUILDING COMMUNITY...

“The main reason I come back week after week is purely just for the contact I get with the Creative Clay artists. Every time I walk into the studio I feel a huge lift to my spirits. I revel in the company of the folk I’ve got to know and love to meet any new artists. For me it’s all about the interaction and, hopefully, facilitating some cool art that the artists can be proud of.”

– Sue Cornelius

Every Monday for the past two and a half years, dedicated volunteer Sue Cornelius (second photo down on the right) has shown up to work with the artists in our Community Arts Studio.

She said she became enamored with Creative Clay’s programs when she stopped by the Good Folk Gallery during a Second Saturday ArtWalk.

She read about us in Creative Loafing and decided to come and see what we were all about. That evening she bought two paintings which now hang in her home. Soon after, she began volunteering in the Creative Clay studio offering encouragement and support to member artists.

Sue is a physical therapist by trade and grew up in a family where volunteering was encouraged. She works two days each week with the homeless population and every Monday at Creative Clay.

She has traveled the world and lived many places. No matter where she goes, she involves herself in the lives of individuals in need and uses her knowledge and life experiences to do what she can to help.

Showing her dedication to Creative Clay, last year Sue became a member of our Good Folk Society monthly giving program, and helps support everything we do in the easiest way possible.

CREATIVE CLAY was supported by 283 VOLUNTEERS this year.

THE GOOD FOLK SOCIETY has grown to 47 members.

YOU ARE PROMOTING INCLUSION... from the Art Around the World summer campers: Dear Creative Clay, You have taught me a lesson that I will never forgetart is ageless. I wanted to thank you for giving me a scholarship to attend your amazing camp! I enjoyed it so much, made so many new friends, and learned lots about China! When I was at camp, I loved that each day there was something new to do and cheerful people that helped you do it. The activities we did were interactive, fun, and neat. My mother asked me why I really wanted to be in this camp; I was going to be the oldest one there. I responded "Art is ageless," just like Mrs. Emily always liked to say. Creative Clay helped me unlock my creative side. this is truly an unforgettable summer!

Lots of warm hugs!

Cordially, Sara from the parents: "It is a huge help in developing her socialization skills and communication with neuro-typical children.�

- Frank D. "I am ecstatic that she is interacting and making friends with all children! I'm so glad I found out about this. I think all children should participate in programs like this.� - Brianna M. ART AROUND THE WORLD SUMMER CAMP serves youth of all abilities each day during eight weeks of summer.

Funded by The White Family Foundation, Creative Pinellas, Publix Charitable Foundation, St. Petersburg Arts Alliance, and the Rotary Club of St. Petersburg.

YOU ARE CREATING POWERFUL CONNECTIONS...

“My favorite part of the process was just spending time together in the studio and not knowing what we were going to end up with” - Calan Ree In January of 2019, Creative Clay Community Arts member Marquise R. and professional artist Calan Ree were matched together to create a body of work for Artlink, funded by the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) where a professional artist is paired with a Creative Clay artist to collaborate and bring amazing new work to life. This year ten artist-pairs participated.

The professional artist acts as a mentor and guide through the process of creating and presenting the new work. The teams spend nearly six months together working four to six hours a week.

Together on a path of discovery, the artists learn from each other and explore new techniques and processes. Marcy Miller, Creative Clay’s Artlink Director said, “Although Artlink was designed as a program to benefit artists with disabilities, I am always impressed by how much the professional artists get out of it.”

Marquise and Calan have been working as student and teacher for many years at Creative Clay but this is the first time they’ve worked one-on-one on a collaborative project. The pair wasted no time fulfilling the exhibition requirement. In February they participated in the exhibit “Dreams Deferred” at Mize Gallery with Dream Warrior (pictured at right). “My favorite part of the process was just spending time together in the studio and not knowing what we were going to end up with,” Calan says.

All of Marquise and Calan’s hard work was on display when the ten teams came together at St. Petersburg’s Museum of Fine Arts for the final exhibit.

A long line of enthusiastic art lovers was led into the museum only to be delighted to see the incredible exhibit and performances inside.

Artlink 2019 was a smash hit.

COMMUNITY ARTS serves 47 Adults with disabilities each week. Funded

by Medicaid Waiver, City of St. Petersburg, Florida Division of Cultural Affairs Culture Builds Florida, Duke Energy, Pinellas Community Foundation, J. Crayton Pruitt Foundation.

ARTLINK serves ten adults with disabilities and employs professional artists from the community. Funded by Vocational Rehabilitation and the National Endowment for the Arts.

CREATIVE CLAY employs 26 professional artists.

YOU ARE ASSURING A FUTURE ACCESSIBLE FOR ALL...

Thanks to several generous donations, grants and in-kind services, in 2019 Creative Clay made several interior and exterior improvements.

A generous donation from Willi Rudowsky and board member Hal Freedman, along with the City of St. Petersburg’s Community Redevelopment Areas grant (CRA), made it possible for Creative Clay teaching artist and local artist Todd Frain to design and paint a mural, inspired by his favorite Creative Clay pieces, along the side of Creative Clay. The mural installation was part of the city’s Shine Mural Festival and continued through Creative Clay Fest where the community participated in the completion of the project.

New accessibility ramps, a bike rack, improved landscaping and outdoor lighting were made possible by the in-kind contribution of work from Joswig Construction and the CRA grant. Touchless sinks, soap dispensers and hand dryers were made possible by a grant from the Pinellas Community Foundation and an in-kind donation of services from Lucky Devil Electric Company. The support of our loving community has made Creative Clay a more welcoming and accessible space. We hope you will come and see us again soon.

REVENUE & EXPENSES REVENUE CONTRIBUTIONS $184,680 31% PROGRAMS $272,925 46%

GRANTS $110,447 18%

RETAIL $30,747 5%

EXPENSES FUNDRAISING $88,900 15% PROGRAMS $395,950 67%

OPERATIONS $104,713 18%

ADDITIONAL PROGRAMS

Population Served: Teens to young adults with disabilities Individuals Served: Six per day Funded by: J. Crayton Pruitt Foundation Highlight: 67% of the attendees receive full scholarship

Population Served: Children and adults of all abilities Individuals Served: 240 per year Funded by: Collaborative Partners Highlight: Outreach provides services to Goodwill, CASA, Menorah Manor, Sabal Palms and St. Anthony’s Hospital

Population Served: Adults with Disabilities Individuals Served: Five per week Funded by: Donors like you Highlight: All participants receive full scholarship

EXHIBITIONS & EVENTS Good Folk Gallery Exhibitions at Creative Clay

By The Sea Into The Forest: Honoring Yalanda Speights Voices of a Dream A Serpent’s View: Featuring the work of Joseph “JJ” H. The Food Show Mix it up!

Mary Andrews Celebration of Life Crossing the Bridge 2 with Pyramid Tampa Events/Partners Creative Clay Fest 2018 with 3 Daughters Brewing Transition Holiday Market MLK Day of Service with CASA Community Wellness Fair, Christ Methodist Church Festivale 50 at Creative Pinellas Gallery Spring for the Arts, Imagine Museum Camp Caregiver, St. Anthony’s Hospital Listening Room Festival, The Palladium Portraits, hosted by Rep. Ben Diamond, The Capitol Autism Awareness Exhibit, American Stage Transition Art Finale, Gilbert Chapel Gallery Fran Snyder Concert to benefit Creative Clay Arts Alive Day, The Dali Museum Community Exhibitions Mobs of Color, SPC Artway Too Gallery Extraordinary!, Dunedin Fine Art Center Florida Imagined, UT Scarfone Hartley Gallery PupART Benefit Exhibit, Black Crow Coffee Summertime, ASPEC at Lewis House, Eckerd College Wild Appetites, SPC Artway Too Gallery Artlink 2019, St. Petersburg Museum of Fine Arts Chairs for Charity, The Cube Miracle by the Bay, Straub Park Shorecrest Fall Festival, Shorecrest Preparatory School Folk Artists of Creative Clay, Museum of Fine Arts Store Art in Offices Anderson McQueen GoZone WIFI Homeowners Financial Group Infant Family Center at USF St. Pete Modern Business Associates Goodrich Wealth Planning of Raymond James Representative Ben Diamond The Penny Hoarder

SUSTAINING SUPPORTERS

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT! Donors of $500 + A.F.I.R.E. • David Ramsdell & Kevin Long • Dr. Fred Brown Family Dental Boutique • Grace-Anne Alfiero Jennifer Lovelady • Anonymous • John & Mary Sweeny Jung In Kang & Thomas Harrington• Lindsay Cross Yalanda & Mae Speights • Project Commonwealth Robertson Family Charitable Foundation • Robert Marrow Southwest Airlines Good Folk Society Members Allison Kimball • Amanda Maloney • Anne Parret Anthony Ateek • Audrey McConnell • Barbara Voglewede • Becky Geanaros • Bryce Hudson • Chanda Lawdermilk • Deana Hawk • Deb Heiss • Don Dohrman Donna Reynolds • Manny Rosario • Eleanor Finehout Erin O'neill • Greg Bauman • Hal Freedman & Willi Rudowsky • Jacqulyn Schuett • James Hoffman • Jane Holloway • Janie & Chris Fontaine • Jocelyn Lister Karen Helsinger • Kathleen Barry • Ken Huelhorst • Kim Dohrman • Kori Beilman • Krystle Pinzker • Kyle Hickey Lucinda & Howard Johnston • Mary Ann Ferrin • Megan Fielding • Melanie & John Jackson • Michael Sedita Natalie Fisher • Nanette Counselman • Paul Williams Page Garrison • Rose Marie Green • Sean Kennedy Sean McConnell • Sibyl Murray • Susan Cornelius Tammy & Dan Boldt • Kim & Tim Church • Yoko Nogami

Looking Forward As Creative Clay celebrates 25 years serving the St. Petersburg community, the staff and leadership are ready to forge ahead, improving and expanding existing programs and developing new partnerships. Also, members of their organization are looking forward to several projects that will come to fruition in the coming year.

Coffee Table Book Under the Guidance of Instructor David Watts, USF St. Pete students designed a coffee table book featuring the art of 25 of Creative Clay’s most accomplished artists. The book should be completed this summer.

Grantors/Partners Anonymous • City of St. Petersburg •Creative Pinellas Design O’Fresco Corp. • Division of Cultural Affairs • Gulf Coast Charity Open • iHeartMedia • J. Crayton Pruitt Foundation • Listening Room Network • Pinellas Community Foundation • Pinellas County School Board Pinellas Realtor Foundation, Inc. • Publix Super Markets Charities • Rotary Club of St. Petersburg • Sherloq Group St. Petersburg Arts Alliance • White Family Foundation

Painted Hard Hats The builders of the new TRU by Hilton Boutique hotel on Central Avenue, Menna Development & Management, Inc. will be using hard hats painted by Creative Clay artists to give tours to perspective tenants. City officials will also wear the hats during the building’s ribbon cutting ceremony. This will be a great opportunity to showcase Creative Clay’s involvement and inclusive role in the community. The partnership will culminate in an exhibit of the painted hard hats at the hotel when it is open to the public.

Business and Individual Sponsors 3 Daughters Brewing • Ace High Printing Anonymous • ARTicles • Bailey Family Foundation Bavaro’s Neapolitan Pizza & Pastaria • Big Frog Custom TShirts • Catalina Charitable Foundation • Black Crow Coffee • Callaloo • Caroline & Andrew Miller • Casita Taqueria • Creative Loafing • Cushman & Wakefield Duke Energy • Fletcher Fischer Pollack P.L. • Florida Tax Advisors • Freedom Bank • Gaunce Law • Greenacre Properties • Green Bench Brewing Company • GoZone WIFI • Hawkers Asian Street Fare • Hideaway Café • HOK Inc. • Homeowners Financial Group • John Hackett Anonymous• Law Office of Ama Appiah • livingHR Lucky Devil Electric • MBA • Media Garage • Menna Development & Management Inc. • Paradise News Perconti Data Systems • Pipo’s • Susan Jones Steele & Mario Farias • Swissteam Performance Cleaning • Thorpe Chiropractic • USF Pubic Media • WEDU • WeightSmart MD • Willi Rudowsky & Hal Freedman • Zoo Studios

Creative Clay will be Celebrating its 25th Year in 2020 For 25 years Creative Clay has worked hard to ensure that individuals with disabilities are given an equal opportunity to be themselves, express themselves, and participate in the art community that makes our city great. Our new tagline reflects this sentiment.

Please give to Creative Clay today to celebrate 25 years of Equality Through Art. Join the Creative Clay family today!

Volunteer, sponsor or donate. Go to www.creativeclay.org

CREATIVE CLAY 1846 First Avenue South, St. Petersburg, Florida 33712 www.creativeclay.org • phone: 727-825-0515