Celebrating Women in Art History

Creative Clay Honors
Women Visual Artists Past and Present

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Through April 30
Free
Creative Clay, St. Pete
Details here

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NEA/Pinellas Recovers Grant Update

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Creative Clay’s Women in Art History exhibit celebrating Women’s History Month, features the women artists of Creative Clay.

Creative Clay artists, working in teams and individually, created art inspired by women artists in art history.

Summer Kluytman and Carla L., celebrating German photomontage artist Hannah Höch with The Bride, mixed media on canvas, 16” x 20”

“The creative process began with the contemporary artist learning the story of their chosen artist in the past,” says Jody Bikoff, Creative Clay Director of Exhibitions. “This included studying a life story, looking at images of artwork, and delving into research where often a past woman artist was under-recognized.

“It was exciting to see how the artists approached their work. Sometimes, one piece of the past artist’s artwork became the inspiration for the contemporary artist’s new work. And for others, inspiration came from the entirety of the past artist’s work and life story.”

Among the Stars, by Hanna V. and Coral Walden, inspired by
the work of Faith Ringgold, collage on canvas, 36” x 36”

Creative Clay Teaching Artist Coral Walden partnered with Member Artist Hanna V. to pay tribute to painter, writer, speaker, mixed media sculptor and performance artist Faith Ringgold through their collaboration.

“I’ve always been inspired by Ringgold’s activism and versatility as an artist,” says Walden. “She opened doors for Black artists, women artists, and folk artists simultaneously, and dissolved the barriers between fine art and political protest.”

Hanna V. and Coral Walden with Among the Stars, inspired by
the work of Faith Ringgold

Member Artist Hanna’s V.’s connection to Ringgold lies in the parallels between their artistic styles. Hanna’s two-dimensional figures and use of bold pattern and color are reminiscent of Ringgold’s Impressionist style.

“Hanna is especially drawn to Ringgold’s narrative quilts, which combine Hanna’s passions for painting and fabric art,” says Walden.

Julie Glaser and Grace P. with their tribute to Yayoi Kusama, acrylic paint and paper mache on canvas, 16” x 20”

Other artists represented in this exhibit include the groundbreaking abstract artist Hilma af Klimt, photomontage and Dada artist Hannah Höch, pop art pioneer Pauline Boty, celebrated Korean painter Kyeong Ja Cheon, wide-ranging installation artist Yayoi Kusama, and revered Mexican painter Frida Kahlo.

Snasketball, by Stephanie P. and Emily Turnage, inspired by
the work of Hilma af Klint

“The intention of this exhibit is to honor and elevate the women artists of our time – as well as the women artists of the past – who have often been under-recognized and marginalized,” says Bikoff.

Funky Times by Ivy J., inspired by Betty Davis, digital portrait, 9.5” x 11.5”

Creative Clay Teaching Artist Emily Turnage partnered with Member Artist Ivy J. to create music and digital media inspired by funk singer, songwriter and producer Betty Davis, a woman ahead of her time whose talents went overlooked or underappreciated in her day. “I was drawn to Betty Davis because of her ‘I am who I am and I don’t care what you think’ outlook on life. I find that inspiring and thought Ivy may too,” says Emily.

You can scan this QR code with your phone’s camera to hear “Authentically Me,” created by Emily Turnage and Ivy J., inspired by the work of Betty Davis, music and digital media

“I chose Betty Davis because we researched her and she has a really nice genre of music that she does. She does funk and I had a lot of fun making that song, collaborating on that,” explains Ivy J.  Their song, titled ‘Authentically Me,’ can be played by scanning the QR code above.

Creative Clay Teaching Artist Jung In Kang partnered with Member Artist Shasta G. to pay tribute to Chun Kyung-ja through their collaboration – a Korean painter known for her bold and vividly colorful paintings depicting mainly female figures, flowers and animals.

On the left, Three Black Women Widows by by Shasta and Jung In Kang, inspired by Chun Kyung-ja, acrylic on canvas, 18” x 24” – and on the right, Shasta G.’s Sketch for Three Black Women Widows, graphite on paper, 18” x 24”

“Shasta likes painting portraits of women and flowers,” says Jung In. “Chun Kyung-ja’s style and colors are kind of like Frida Kahlo and Matisse, and her themes are women and flowers, not just in an Asian art style.  Shasta liked her painting style and was inspired.”

Lindsay J. and Lisa Glaser with Self Portrait, their work inspired by Pauline Botey, Acrylic on Canvas, 22” x 28”

Artist teams include

Coral Walden and Hanna V.
Emily Turnage and Ivy J. and Stephanie P.
Lisa Glaser and Lindsay J.
Jung In Kang and Shasta G.
Summer Kluytman and Carla L.
Julie Price and Grace P.

A Portrait of Frida Kahlo, by Shasta G. and Jung In Kang


Women in Art History
may be viewed at Creative Clay’s Good Folk Gallery from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, and in its virtual gallery on Creative Clay’s website. Art in Creative Clay’s Good Folk Gallery and its virtual gallery is available for purchase. Artists receive 50% commission on all works sold.
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creativeclay.org

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Creative Clay is a recipient of the Pinellas Recovers Grant,
provided by Creative Pinellas through a grant from the
National Endowment of the Arts American Rescue Plan.
Self Portrait, inspired by the work of Pauline Botey, by Lindsay J. and Lisa Glaser,
acrylic on canvas, 22” x 28”

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