Retrospective 30: Celebrating Black Artists
Featuring Member Artists Ashton T., Marquise Russ, and Christopher Joseph
Works presented at Creative Clay’s Good Folk Gallery M-F 8-4
Opening ArtWalk Reception
Sat., Feb.8, 2025 5-9
Enjoy t-shirt printing by Big Frog T-shirt Printing
Member Artist Ashton T. and his piece, “Windy Beach.”
Ashton T.: I was 18 when I first started at Creative Clay so it was 6 years ago. I started in the Transition program. Well, they helped me with the jobs out in the real world to figure out what skills I needed. I liked to do my own things and learned about freestyling on the cards. I came into the Creative Clay Community Arts Program and I enjoy being challenged. It helps me update my skills to continue to get better and better over time. I do love trying new things, and sometimes I like to stay at Creative Clay because there is something always unexpected to do. It challenges me. I also enjoy the community part of Creative Clay. The other member artists want me to collaborate with them and they inspire me to make art together and do well. I must reach to the limit of progress to astonish and branch out in the world and the challenges like different mediums. Click below to read more!
Member Artist Marquise Russ and his found object painting.
Marquise Russ: 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. Click below to read more!
Christopher Joseph’s “Hand Fan Dance”
Christopher Joseph was born in Winterhaven, Florida and has been attending Creative Clay since January of 2022. He says the support of his sister and his mother have greatly impacted his life as an artist. Christopher's favorite mediums are drawing and painting, and his art is heavily inspired by his love of Japanese Anime and popular culture. In the future, he hopes to explore different types of art. Click below to read more!