Show to feature area's creative artists

Asheville Citizen-Times, September 2003
by Judy Ausley
Citizen-Times Correspondent

The work of emerging artists in the area's special populations will be on display from September 12-26 at Woolworth Walk on Haywood street in downtown Asheville. The art show will feature the creative work on individuals with developmental, physical and/or mental and emotional disabilities, who are students at Creative Clay Inc. in Woodfin.

"Through the arts we teach, we have seen more than one student with developmental challenges emerge into a creative and artistic world they never knew existed before," said Sonia Pitts, an art teacher and program manager at the center.

"For some of these people it is the first time they have been able to connect with a new world of creativity inside themselves, it is really beautiful to discover and observe and it is an immense study in communication with others," Erika Schultz, assistant director at the center said.

"It is a wonderful feeling to see the twinkle in the eyes of our students when they create an art piece."

"With this discovery for these folks that are often pushed aside in society, through their art and new empowerment students have for the first time a voice in society, they are all terrifically talented," Pitts said.

The nonprofit Creative Clay Studio in Asheville was started by two Florida artists and therapeutic counselors, Danielle Despathy-Rottenberg, and Grave-Ann Alfiero, who divide their time between hones and studios in St. Petersburg and Asheville.

Currently the center has about 25 students each day of the week. Pitts said there are openings for more students for fall classes that begin in September. The center is open from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. during the week.

Art classes available and taught by a young staff of art professionals include, music, painting, sculpture, creative writing and dramatic arts.

A clay studio with classes in pottery is planned for later this year. Scholarships for students in need can be applied for at the center and fundraisers in the next several months are being planned in order to defray costs of furnishing and operating the facility.

Donations from businesses and private families offering art supplies, frames and paper are welcome, according to Pitts. "Since we started we have had really wonderful interest and contributions from Asheville business people who support our program," Pitts said.

Anyone interested in enrolling in the art programs can contact Pitts or Schultz at 658-8875 or visit www.creativeclay.org.