Donna “Janie” Waters, a Wal-Mart employee, earned $250 for Creative Clay through her volunteer services. Thank you, Janie! Holding the check from left to right are member artist Chris F. and volunteer Janie Waters. Back row: Executive Director and Creative Clay founder, Grace-Anne Alfiero and Development Coordinator Betsy Pearson.
Volunteer Rachael Kratz purchased member artist John V.’s painting, “House of Pancakes” today.
Volunteer Lauri Green led her second dance class recently. She led the first class in traditional Hawaiian dance. Pictured above member artists participating in Lauri’s Latin Dance class. Cha cha cha!
Robert B. painting one of his favorite characters, Alice from Alice and Wonderland.
JJ H. and Dolores M. in full concentration.
Volunteer Jessica Silva and Thor B. worked together for the entire studio time!
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.