ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – The Pinellas County Schools’ Transition Student Artists and Creative Clay’s Member Artists will host their first Friday Art Market of the school year, Sept. 1, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., in Creative Clay’s courtyard.
“The new Transition crew is excited to practice their employment skills at the year’s first market,” said Lauren Gentry, Transition Art Educator. “Monthly art markets provide opportunities for artists to sell their works and learn real-world skills.”
For example, artist Kemarre W. is excited to help check out customers and give them change when paying with cash. Erann B. is looking forward to improving her customer service skills. For some artists, the Friday Art Markets are a new learning experience Chad’e B. said she looks forward to making sales and learning the ins and outs of markets.
Gentry is pleased with her students’ excitement. “Ryan feels confident in his money skills but is looking forward to learning a new tech skill when he processes sales using the Square app,” she said. “This is a wonderful opportunity for student artists to learn business skills.
The Friday Art Market is another way to support local artists while enjoying outdoor shopping, live music by Creative Clay Teaching Artist Ashton Sanchez, Member Artist karaoke, a community singalong, and Pamz Pizza Conez food truck. All artists receive 50% on all works sold.
Sanchez looks forward to connecting with the public and sharing Creative Clay’s mission through music.
“I am super excited and honored to be this month’s musician,” Sanchez said. “I will be bringing an array of different percussion instruments, like my marimba and cajon, which will provide new musical colors to our Art Market! These instruments are not normally accessible in the studio for our member artists, so it will be a fun opportunity for them to learn about these instruments, their sounds, and what kind of music one may hear accompanied by them.”
Learn more about Creative Clay, its vision of equality through art, and its programs at www.creativeclay.org. Like Creative Clay on Facebook, follow on Instagram @creativeclaystpete; follow on Twitter @creativeclay and on LinkedIn.
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