ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – Almost a decade after the first collaborative exhibition between Creative Clay artists and Japanese artists with disabilities, which culminated in the Artlink Japan project, the non-profit is set to launch a new exhibit featuring a vast selection of art, directly from Japan.
Artlink Japan 2017 opens Saturday, Jan. 14, during Artwalk, 5-9 p.m., and features 2-D art of canvases, a small sculpture of a tiara, textiles, including a kimono and acrylic paintings by our member artist that were previously included in a Takamatsu, Japan exhibit. The works, which arrived at Creative Clay at the end of 2016, will remain in Creative Clay’s Good Folk Gallery through Feb. 10
Artlink Japan is a multicultural exhibit that features an exchange of artwork between St. Petersburg’s Creative Clay, which serves adults with disabilities through arts programming and similar programs in Japan.
“We are very grateful we’ve had the opportunity to share this ongoing relationship with our artist friends in Japan,” said Marcy Davidson, Creative Clay Human Resources Director, who also coordinated the exhibit. “This project takes the collaborative spirit of Artlink to an international level and greatly broadens the boundaries of artistic expression for our member artists.”
Tomoko Tano, with whom Davidson collaborated, echoed her sentiments: “Artists are ones who soar over the limits, uninhibited over the world boundaries and their art partners are ones who by their very being every day, challenge and conquer the notion of genuine freedom; both shaking the social notion and concept of normalcy. Two strangers met and worked among others to create these projects. New worlds were created by two people from different worlds colliding, influencing each other’s creativity.”
Artlink Japan 2017 opens during Artwalk Jan. 14 will be an interactive exhibit, with models wearing art sent directly from Japan, including a kimono. The exhibit is free and open to the public during regular hours Monday through Friday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturdays 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and during second Saturday Artwalk 5-9 p.m.
Creative Clay’s mission is to help people with disabilities achieve full and inclusive lives through access to the arts by providing expressive, educational and vocational experiences. We serve people with developmental, physical and emotional disabilities, as well as people in healthcare settings, children, veterans, and provide outreach art experiences in our community. Visit www.creativeclay.org.