Creative Clay’s connection with Sparks began in 2019, when longtime supporter and former member of Creative Clay's Creative Care Arts in Healthcare team, and Sparks participant Choreographer and Dancer Paula Kramer introduced playwright Sheila Cowley to Creative Clay.

Collaborative painting, Sea Life, one of the seven paintings gifted to USF College of Marine Science as a part of the NEA project with Sparks, USF College of Marine Science, and Creative Clay.

Soon after being introduced and getting to know a little more about Creative Clay’s artists and mission, playwright and leader of Sparks, Sheila wrote Airlift with the big idea of having as many artists as possible participate in all attributes of the play’s creation and performance. The artists worked with set designers, actors, dancers, and musicians to complete the collaboration which debuted in front of the St. Petersburg Museum of Fine Arts to kick off Creative Clay’s big Artlink celebration. The play was a hit and the two entities decided they would continue to work together with the goal of giving Creative Clay member artists more opportunities for performing ... and so began the amazing partnership between the Sparks Collaborative Ensemble and Creative Clay.

Poet Sara Ries Dziekonski working with member artists to write poetry about the sea. (2024)

Illustration projects written and proposed throughout the pandemic, starting with Wordy (a project where member artists and staff came up with their favorite word to illustrate resulting in a movie directed by Sheila and Sparks made to be compatible with the new virtual communication world), kept all the artists of Creative Clay engaged when everyone was working from home and participating in classes virtually. Without Sparks’ creative experiences, the feeling of community and artistic interaction may have been more difficult to achieve.

Member Artist Cory B. in performance of *Billow* at Spring for the Arts. (2023)

Since the performance of Airlift in September of 2019, Creative Clay has collaborated with Sparks on over a dozen projects of all sorts. With several performances, illustrated books, and colorful teleplays, plus new projects on the horizon the partnership is blossoming with every passing day.

Sheila says “It's a privilege and a pleasure to create performance works and illustrated audiobooks with Creative Clay – and it's always a joyous collaboration. I started working with Creative Clay because the member artists are terrific visual artists who are wonderful at creating visual art inspired by words, and I'm delighted that so many member artists have become performing artists in our work together.”

PROJECTS INCLUDE:

AIRLIFT (2019) Funded in part by the NEA.
Splish Splash (2020)
Sparks in the Rain (2021) created with choreographer & dancer Paula Kramer
Boing! (2021) Live with member artists Lindsay Johnson, Gina Kenney, Marquise Russ, and actor Jan Neuberger. Written by Sheila Cowley
Tune for the Triangles (2021) a dance by Paula Kramer performed with member artists Hanna V. and Chris Coyle
Billow (2022) for Spring for the Arts
When the Tuba Shows Up, It's a Party (2022) paintings, book (available on Amazon), illustrated audiobook, live at Friday Art Market (2022) and Spring for the Arts (2023)
The Rainbow Book (2023)
Rampant! illustrations projected at The Studio@620 (2023)
Isaac's Firetruck (2023) member artists leading all-ages drawing sessions and contributing illustrations
Boing! illustrated audiobook (2023) ,Written by Sheila Cowley, video performance by Mimi Rice, and illustrations by Creative Clay artists.
Twice as Spectacular (2023)
Imagination Ocean (2024)
One Breath from the Sea (2024) Performance of poem by Sara Ries Dziekonski and Creative Clay member artists at Creative Clay’s Spring for the Arts at NOVA 535. Funded in part by the NEA.
What Shines Beneath (2024) Poem written by Creative Clay artists with Sara Ries Dziekonski, ASL by Carol Downing and voice by actor Vickie Daignault. Funded in part by the NEA.
Plankton Poem (2024) A collaborative poem written by member artists‬, scientists at ‪@USFMarineScience‬ and poet Sara Ries Dziekonski. Performed by Sara Ries Dziekonski and Letisia Cruz, with Spanish translation by Dora Arreola. Funded in part by the NEA.
Plankton Dance Flash Mob (2024) Concept by Sheila Cowley, Choreography by Fernando Chonqui, the USF College of Marine Science, musical composition performed by Alejandro Arenas, Mark Feinman, and John O’Leary III of La Lucha. Funded in part by the NEA.

Partnership Feature: Sparks Creative Stories