An opportunity to shine

By MARTHA RIAL, Times Staff
Published October 14, 2007

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ST. PETERSBURG

Thor Burgess used to watch TV all day. Now Burgess, 55, is an accomplished member artist at Creative Clay Inc. who expresses himself through photography, drawing and theater.

"He is a ham," says Creative Clay executive director Grace-Anne Alfiero, who has watched Burgess' transformation for 11 years.

Alfiero's desire to involve people with developmental, physical and cognitive disabilities in the arts community led her to co-found Creative Clay Inc. in 1995.

Today Creative Clay has 52 active member artists and 12 people on the waiting list. But possible state funding cuts worry Alfiero.

"We have made a lot of progress," she said. "St. Petersburg is a nurturing community for this project, but we still have lots more to accomplish."