Creative Clay’s Good Folk Fest includes art, music and more

NASCAR driver Armani Williams will be among the guests at Sunday’s Good Folk Festival, a fundraising event for Creative Clay, at the St. Petersburg Coliseum.

Williams, NASCAR’s first self-identified autistic driver, heard about Creative Clay and its mission – it’s an art center for people with developmental disabilities – and literally asked if he could be a part of the festival.

He’ll join a large collection of notable local artists and musicians who’ve volunteered their time and talents in support of Creative Clay’s 30^th anniversary.

“Armani,” says the organization’s CEO Kim Dohrman, “does a lot of lectures. His message, when he does these talks and visits, is all about encouraging people with disabilities to have their dreams – and not give up on their dreams.

“He’s a living example of that. He has always dreamed, since he was little, about racing cars. And he did all the things he needed to do to have that dream come true. And that’s really similar to the artists at Creative Clay, who’ve always used art as a tool to create, and express, and be a part of our community.”

Williams will be accompanied by an official NASCAR truck “wrapped in Creative Clay art,” according to Dohrman. “It is so cool! It is just cool. Never in a million years would I have thought the word NASCAR would come out of my mouth in any way, shape or form. But when I saw this truck, I was blown away.”

Guitarist, singer and songwriter Christie Lenee.

Guitarist and singer Christie Lenee will perform, along with Ella Jet, Rebecca Pulley, the Burke Brothers (from the band Have Gun, Will Travel) and others. The Good Folk Band, which includes three members of the Creative Clay staff on instruments, backing three member artist/singers, will also take to the Coliseum stage.

Creative Clay’s first such festival, an open-air block party on Central Avenue, took place in 2007. The venue changed over the years, but the celebratory spirit never did. In 2019, in partnership with the Hideaway Café, Good Folk was held beneath the I-275 underpass.

Then came Covid, and there hasn’t been a festival since.

Celebrated folk artist Missionary Mary Proctor will be in attendance.

For the 30^th anniversary, Dohrman explains, “We said, “let’s do something to honor that festival feel, and that love and inclusive feeling we got with having folk artists like Missionary Mary Proctor exhibit right next to our own folk artists.’ All the member artists just loved it. It created a special vibe that we weren’t really getting when we did the traditional party, gala thing for our fundraiser.”

(Proctor, the renowned Florida-based folk artist, will be in attendance this time around, too.)

Musician Stuart Hyatt, who in 2005 used art from Creative Clay artists in the unique canvas packaging for his acclaimed orchestral pop album Shrimp Attack, is another guest.

Musician Stuart Hyatt will celebrate the 20th anniversary of his “Shrimp Attack” album.

“He decided he wanted to come to the festival, help us celebrate our 30 years,” Dohrman says. “He decided he wanted to do a re-release of Shrimp Attack, on vinyl. The first one was on CD.”

For more information on Hyatt and his album, click this link.

Numerous local artists who support Creative Clay’s mission have contributed work to be auctioned. Sunday’s event will also feature mini art classes and demonstrations, along with a silent auction of hand-painted musical instruments.

For Creative Clay’s member artists, “It’s all about connection and connect-ness, being included in something that is purposeful and meaningful in the bigger picture of community,” Dohrman believes. “And having them sort of be the stars, and part of the whole event.

“It’s a beautiful day, it’s a beautiful event. And it’s always been that way, from the very first event on Central Avenue, when it was on the street.”

There will be food and beverage trucks onsite.

For tickets, and additional information on Sunday’s Good Folk Festival, visit the website.