Creative Clay Gives “Purpose” to Artists

Along with six other offerings, the Community Arts Program at  has become one of the most meaningful. According to the Creative Clay website, the Community Arts Program “specifically works with adult artists diagnosed with developmental, emotional and/or physical challenges.” Families of program participants say that the organization changed their lives, for the better.

Toni Green, 38, has Down’s syndrome and grew up with a love for the arts. She came from a family of artists. Green’s mother taught ballet and she has an uncle that travels the world playing the saxophone and the conga drums.

Now, Green is a member artist at Creative Clay. She joined more than five years ago. Prior to Creative Clay, Green had been a part of a similar organization, but was “uninspired” according to her big sister, Gwen Thomas.

Something was missing for Green.

“As the people in her world were expressing themselves, she really had no outlet to do so,” remembered Gwen.

Thomas heard about a program called Creative Clay and asked Green if she wanted to join. Green was “apprehensive at first”, said Thomas. But ultimately, Green found her identity through the program: Toni G. the Artist.

Green’s favorite subjects are people, flowers and coffee. She loves coffee. In fact, her coffee interpretations were recently on display at Kahwa Coffee. 

Creative Clay offers a number of programs, from Artlink to Open Studio Executive Director at Creative Clay, Kim Dohrman says that the goals of the organization reach beyond the participants as artists.

Dohrman said that there is “more of a focus on community integration, socialization and educating the public” rather than just another art program. Field trips to local galleries and workouts at the YMCA are just a few of the reasons that Creative Clay’s initiatives are unique and sought after.

“We’re artists and we’re out to enjoy the galleries and museums, just like anyone else,” said Dohrman.

As a non-profit organization, Creative Clay is always holding charity events that will benefit the programs and the artists.

The next big event is the First Annual Online Photo Contest. It runs from July 1st until October 15th and is open to all photographers and all genres. First place will be awarded $100, second place will receive $75 and third will get $50. It only costs $10 to enter.

Raising funds for the program is imperative to Creative Clay’s success. 

The artists are continually progressing and Dohrman says that their success is the best part of her job.

“They have this place that they can go and grow and earn money and have an identity,” said Dohrman. “It is just an amazing beautiful thing to see them with such purpose.”