Member artists Robin L. and Sarah S. enjoying the interactive fiber exhibit at the Arts Center.

The Hooker Tea Company Presents:
Tea Inspired Art

A tea-rific collaboration between The Hooker Tea Company and Creative Clay

Opening Reception May 23, 2008 at the Hooker Tea Company

“The Hooker Tea Company’s Co-Owner Kendra Rodriquez and Creative Clay’s accomplished staff and member artists have joined their love for tea and artistic talents to create very unique tea inspired artwork,” said Alicia Loomis, Creative Clay curator. “Member artists will be displaying both their individual tea inspired artwork and a group mandala that features the essence of the tea experience. This is a wonderful opportunity for the public to see great artwork, enjoy a cup of tea, and witness the unveiling of a new Chari-tea, a special blend of tea that will benefit Creative Clay.”
The public is invited to the opening reception of Tea Inspired Art at The Hooker Tea Company May 23rd, 6-9pm.

Kendra Rodriquez, The Hooker Tea Company’s Co- Owner states, “We offer over 100 varieties of premium loose tea from around the world. Once you visit, you will see that the atmosphere in our store is very relaxing and scenic. Our staff is friendly and our customer service is excellent. Tea is the new coffee and we’ll get you hooked”. The Hooker Tea Company is located at 300 Beach Drive, Suite 124, Saint Petersburg, Florida 33701. For more information visit www.hookertea.com or call 727-894-4832.

The Tea Garden by Creative Clay artist Arthur S.

Leanne Turton of the Florida Business Travel Association made a visit to the Creative Clay studio recently. Her organization is giving a portion of the proceeds from their annual fundraisers in 2008 and 2009 to Creative Clay and RICH House in Tampa. The first fundraiser is coming up on Tuesday, Sept. 9 at the St. Petersburg Hilton Carillon from 5:00 - 8:00pm.

Leanne sat to have her portrait done while visiting the member artists in the studio. Member artists Dolores M. (above) and Carolyn R. (below) share their drawings with Leanne.

Beau and Chris’s Barkman House will be on display around town:

May - Tyrone Square Mall (food court)
June - Seminole Mall
July - Great Explorations Children’s Museum/Sunken Gardens
August - Largo Library
September - Clearwater Main Library
October - Countryside Mall (not confirmed)
November - Grand Finale event – TBA

The Hooker Tea Company and Creative Clay Present:
Tea Inspired Art
A tea-rific collaboration
Opening Reception open to the public: May 23, 2008, 6-9 p.m. at the Hooker Tea Company

“The Hooker Tea Company’s Co-Owner Kendra Rodriquez and Creative Clay’s accomplished staff and member artists have joined their love for tea and artistic talents to create very unique tea inspired artwork,” said Alicia Loomis, Creative Clay curator. “Member artists will be displaying both their individual tea inspired artwork and a group mandala that features the essence of the tea experience. This is a wonderful opportunity for the public to see great artwork, enjoy a cup of tea, and witness the unveiling of a new Chari-tea, a special blend of tea that will benefit Creative Clay.”

Kendra Rodriquez, The Hooker Tea Company’s Co- Owner states, “We offer over 100 varieties of premium loose tea from around the world. Once you visit, you will see that the atmosphere in our store is very relaxing and scenic. Our staff is friendly and our customer service is excellent. Tea is the new coffee and we’ll get you hooked”. The Hooker Tea Company is located at 300 Beach Drive, Suite 124, Saint Petersburg, Florida 33701. For more information visit www.hookertea.com or call 727-894-4832.

The Tea Garden by Creative Clay artist Arthur S.

The Hooker Tea Company will partner with Creative Clay to create one-of-a-kind tea art. For the next couple of months member artists will be working in a new medium – tea. In the first two sessions, artists drew a variety of tea cups and tea pots. In the third session, they drew tea-related subjects with crayons and then died their papers using a concentrated tea mixture. The results are Tea-rific!

Basketball great, Michael Jordan, states,“Talent wins games, but teamwork and intelligence wins championships.” Creative Clay member artists prove this statement true in their latest art show, Games We Play.

Games We Play, will feature purely unique depictions and artistic alterations of past, present, and imagined games. Member artists have explored this concept both independently and collaboratively over the last few months, and put their artistic intelligence to use creating some very unique and exciting takes on Games We Play. The show will feature a variety of juried artwork in all mediums. Original artwork ranges from one of a kind decks of cards to a large-scale drawing entitled, “The Snake Search”(artwork featured above). The gallery also features member artist designed t-shirts, gift items, and cards great for any occasion.

Please join us for an opening reception of Games We Play, Friday April 4, 2008 from 5-8 pm. Show runs through June 6, 2008.

Creative Clay’s mission is to make the arts accessible for every interested member of the community regardless of age, gender, ability and/or race.

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.

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

Chris F. (above) says he thinks E! TV should come to Creative Clay to interview him about being an artist.

Two of Creative Clay’s February featured artists, Yalanda S. (above) and Steve S. (below), pose with their paintings.