On Wednesday, March 19, five Creative Clay Member Artists along with two staff members and four Eckerd College students, embarked on a unique trek that began at Fort Desoto Park and ended on Eckerd College soil. The journey: Create Environmental Art!

Environmental Art is eco-friendly art created from nature that does not posses any unnatural elements, giving cause to preserve earth’s natural ecosystem.

A very tough task to read on paper, however this task was greatly executed with the fullest and highest respect for the laws in the subject of environmental art. One Eckerd Student was paired with one Creative Clay Member Artist and was given the duty to create an environmental art piece at Fort Desoto Park using only available/found natural elements. One team created sand portraits, another team created a movable horticulture installation and two teams created music using found sticks/rocks/palm tree leaves on the surrounding environment. It was truly a remarkable learning experience for all the Creative Clay staff, Creative Clay Member Artists, and Eckerd Students. Art isn’t only paint on canvas or wooden sticks to a drum or fired clay on a shelf; it exists in nature. This experiment has opened new possibilities and processes to both young and established artists, giving way to a prism haloed present for a golden-GREEN horizon in the future.

Monica (left) enjoys visiting with Creative Clay member artist Carolyn. Each Friday, Creative Clay member artists volunteer in Ms. Janie Fontaine’s high school classroom at Nina Harris Exceptional Student Education Center in Pinellas Park.

Steve, Kim, and John sketching the Eckerd College sailing class.

From left to right: Guest artist Jody Bikoff, member artists Sheryl, Gina, and Michael, guest artist Charlie Bachmann, member artists Yalanda, John and Stephanie.

Member artists Yalanda and John making music together with Creative Clay studio instruments.

Member artist Stephanie makes sure the Publix grocery store exhibit is clean for the children. Creative Clay volunteers at Great Explorations every Monday afternoon.

Member artists Robin (above), Carolyn, and Dolores helped to hang a Creative Clay art show at the main branch of the St. Petersburg Public Library on 3745 9th Ave. North, St. Petersburg, FL 33713. Come check out our three display cases and hanging artwork!