Holiday Schedule

The Gallery and Studio will be closed December 25 and January 1 in observance of the holidays. For more information, please contact us at info@www.creativegrowth.org or (510) 836-2340 x15.

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Directors' Note | Year End Letter

Dear Friend,

If you had to summarize your passion in life in just one sentence, what would you say? If you immediately know your answer, you’ll probably see a little bit of yourself in our artists, Elizabeth and Barry.

Elizabeth knew she wanted to be a fashion designer when she was just 10 years old. Growing up with Down syndrome in the 1990’s, she faced narrow-minded assumptions about her potential. Coupled with a sudden loss of her mother early in her life, she began sketching in an effort to heal. She dreamt that one day she’d transform her fashion ideas into reality. Then in 2011, Elizabeth came to Creative Growth and challenged assumptions head on.

She poured herself into her creative process, unlocked her potential as a designer, and hasn’t looked back since. Today, she’s developing sensational, fresh looks for our annual runway event, Beyond Trend, and is a featured artist in Nordstrom’s 2017 Fall Fashion Campaign - turning the traditional notion of who can be an artist and a fashion model today on its head.

By supporting Creative Growth with a gift today, you ensure over 150 artists with disabilities, like Elizabeth, have the opportunity to nurture their potential in a safe, supportive community year-round.

Like Elizabeth, Barry came to Creative Growth and discovered his potential to thrive as a visionary artist. Despite battling serious health issues, alongside complications from managing a dual diagnosis, his passion for painting has continued to grow. Because it calms him, Barry likes to work in our garden everyday. It’s this love of nature that has inspired the color and intricate patterns in his work.

Today, Barry is one of four artists with artwork featured in a brand new line of Method brand cleaning products, currently being sold in Target stores nationwide - extending the reach of his art to an audience of millions!

“At Creative Growth, I paint every day and spend time with friends.” -Barry

The support and opportunity Elizabeth and Barry receive at Creative Growth have allowed them to channel their determination and hard work successfully into their craft and reach new levels of success. We hope you’ll join us in our mission to push the innovative work of artists with disabilities further into the mainstream by contributing today.

In 2017, many of our artists who are paving the way for others in the contemporary art world, gained unprecedented levels of mainstream exposure.

*The work of Dan Miller and Judith Scott (d.2005) was included in the 2017 Venice Biennale - a historic first for artists with disabilities.

*Artists Barry Regan, Aurie Ramirez, Maureen Clay, and Allan Lofberg have artwork paired with four limited-edition Method home-cleaning products - which hit Target stores across America in October 2017.

*We published Volume II of the Creative Growth Magazine to rave reviews, effectively allowing our artists to control their own narratives in their communication with the public.

*Artists Elizabeth Rangel and William Scott were featured in Nordstrom’s 2017 Fall Fashion campaign.

*William Scott’s work was accepted into the permanent collection of SFMOMA, his hometown museum - marking another remarkable achievement on his path forward.

Even with these incredible strides, we have so much work left to do to ensure all artists with disabilities have the chance to thrive as contemporary artists. Creative Growth artists are passionate about their work. Your annual gift offers them the encouragement and the tools they need to advance for another year.

Thank you for making their work possible!

All the best, Tom di Maria, Director Becki Couch-Alvarado, Executive Director

P.S. Make a contribution of $250 or above and be the first to receive a copy of a new book about Creative Growth artist, William Scott, to be released to the public in January 2018.

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Shop New Creative Growth Gifts

Creative Growth has new artist-inspired gift items for sale! We're pleased to offer the Creative Growth Coloring Book, filled with over 50 pages of illustrations by Creative Growth artists; William Tyler and Juan Aguilera tees and sweatshirts available for the whole family; one-of-a-kind artwork sticker packs; and greeting card packs with holiday themes or an assortment of Creative Growth artwork.  And, for the first time ever, you can take home work by Charles Smith in the form of limited edition prints, available as individual prints or as a set of three.

Find the perfect gifts while supporting Creative Growth artists and programs!

Shop the gifts in person at our Gallery or online here.

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CG + Four Barrel Coffee

Four Barrel releases a new group of coffees this December, and the labels on the retail coffee bags will feature the artwork of eleven Creative Growth artists: Aurie Ramirez, Donald Mitchell, Paul Fields, Alice Wong, Ruth Stafford, William Scott, Ying Ge Zhou, Barry Regan, Dan Miller, Susan Janow, and John Hiltunen. Coinciding with this release will be two exhibitions of Creative Growth artwork, one at Four Barrel Valencia and one at The Mill on Divisadero. Four Barrel is a cafe and roastery that has been supporting artists with exhibitions since 2008. The Mill is a cafe and bakery that has been supporting artists with exhibitions since 2013. These exhibitions are free and open to the public. Four Barrel Coffee is located at 375 Valencia Street in San Francisco, and is open daily from 7am until 8pm. The Mill SF is located at 736 Divisadero Street, and is open daily from 7am until 9pm. Contact art@fourbarrelcoffee.com and visit themillsf.com and fourbarrelcoffee.com.

Exhibition details:

December 7, 2017 - January 16, 2018 at The Mill SF Opening Reception: Thursday December 7, 6-8 pm The Mill SF: 736 Divisadero St. SF CA

December 14, 2017 - February 1, 2018 at Four Barrel Valencia Opening Reception/Pop Up: Thursday December 14, 10am-2pm Four Barrel Coffee: 375 Valencia St. SF CA

Join us for an opening reception at The Mill on Thursday December 7th from 6-8pm. Refreshments will be served and the artwork from eight artists will be on view. Join us again on Thursday December 14th for a pop-up art sale and reception for the Valencia exhibition, from 10am-2pm. Refreshments and snacks will be served, and additional art from Creative Growth will be available for sale.

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Creative Growth + method and Cheeky | Limited Edition Home Products at Target

Creative Growth is thrilled to partner with Method and Cheeky in the creation of limited edition collections of their home products. Method's line of hand washes and home cleaning products is inspired by the work of four Creative Growth artists: Maureen ClayAllan Lofberg, Aurie Ramirez, and Barry Regan. The collection features the artists' work paired with four limited edition method fragrances to showcase how art can enrich everyday life. Cheeky's paper cups and plates are designed with work by Aurie Ramirez, Regina Broussard, and Susan Janow. Both collections are available exclusively at Target stores nationwide and are dedicated to empowering artists and designing for good. “Creative Growth’s powerful work inspired us to tap into method’s design legacy for a collection that is a reflection of our mission,” said Doug Piwinski, CMO of People Against Dirty. “Because sometimes the idea can be simple: by empowering artists, you can uplift communities and create a better world.”

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In the words of Creative Growth Director, Tom di Maria: "Our mission is to understand how everyone is a part of the creative community. Our partnership[s] are about valuing how our artists can be seen as contemporary designers, and how their art can enrich the everyday experience of people.”

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More about the limited edition collections can be found at method and at Cheeky or by following method and Cheeky on Facebook @methodhome and @cheeky or Instagram @methodhome and @cheeky_home.

Levi's + Creative Growth Community Night

Friday, October 27th 6:00PM - 9:00PM Levi's Store Emeryville 5641 Bay Street, Emeryville, CA

Join us as we celebrate a special partnership between Levi’s and Creative Growth. Come by the Levi's store on Bay Street in Emeryville to shop 11 unique trucker jackets, customized by artists from the Creative Growth Art Center. Enjoy drinks, lite bites, and learn more about the ways Levi's and Creative Growth have been working together.

To learn more and to RSVP for the event, click here.

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More about our partnership:

Denim has always been a canvas for self-expression. Whether pinned, patched, painted, ripped, teared, or embroidered, each pair of denim is as unique as the wearer. Artists and creators are a part of our DNA, which is how the relationship between Creative Growth and Levi’s came to fruition.

Original, authentic, creative, and philanthropic – by supporting this partnership you’re supporting the local community and the diverse individuals who make it so special.

A portion of the proceeds from the event will go directly back to Creative Growth. Additional artwork and donations will be available on site.

Creative Flow

Keep Creative Growth Artists' Creativity Flowing for just $7 a Month!

12 gifts in 12 months.

$7 a month. $84 a year.

What does $7 mean to you?

A couple artisan cups of coffee or your current Hulu subscription?

By pledging just $7 a month, you can directly ensure we keep the creativity of our artists flowing sustainably throughout the year. 

Make your pledge before October 31st and enjoy a special gift from us!

Sign up, here.

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$7 a month can fund:

  • 3 paint markers for Dan Miller's large-scale masterpieces

  • 1,000 beads and sequins for Monica Valentine's incredible beaded sculptures

  • A one-way fare for Donald Mitchell to attend classes

  • 1 bag of clay for Cedric Johnson's ceramic mask sculptures

  • Lunches and snacks for artists who don't have their own

  • 1 jar of printing ink for Juan Aguilera's beautiful flower prints

  • 1 artist's round-trip fare for a field trip to SFMoMA

  • 3 spools of yarn for Paulino Martin's textile creations

At Creative Growth, we work year-round to provide our artists with the tools and exposure they need to thrive in today’s contemporary art world and explore the far reaches of creative expression. You can help us continue our legacy by signing up today!

Not ready to give monthly, but still want to contribute?

Make a one-time donation, here.

Nordstrom Fall 2017 Campaign features Creative Growth

Creative Growth artists Elizabeth Rangel and William Scott and Director Tom di Maria are featured in Nordstrom's Fall 2017 campaign. Olivia Kim, VP of Creative Projects describes the campaign:

“People are the foundation of Nordstrom. They are our friends and our friends-of-friends, and in our Fall 2017 Brand Campaign we wanted to convey a sense of community and celebrate real people who are doing great and extraordinary things, who inspire us in our everyday lives. We always do our best to reflect the diverse customers and communities we serve so we work to represent all kinds of diversity in our campaigns whenever possible.”

We're thrilled to be part of such an amazing community! See the whole campaign, including videos, at nordstrom.com

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Tom di Maria presents at Pacific Rim International Conference on Disability and Diversity

Creative Growth Director, Tom di Maria, will be a Keynote speaker on the Power of Art at the 2018 Pacific Rim International Conference on Disability and Diversity as well as presenting a session on the Art Book as a Narrative Tool. The Pacific Rim International Conference, considered one of the most diverse gatherings in the world, encourages and respects voices from diverse perspective across numerous areas, including: voices from persons representing all disability areas; experiences of family members and supporters across all disability and diversity areas; responsiveness to diverse cultural and language differences; evidence of researchers and academics studying diversity and disability; stories of persons providing powerful lessons; examples of program providers, and; action plans to meet human and social needs in a globalized world.

The conference is October 9-11, 2017 at The Modern Honolulu and Hilton Hawaii Village and Resorts. Learn more about the Pacific Rim International Conference here.

Creative Growth + Museum of Ice Cream

From the Creative Growth creative community to the creative minds at Museum of Ice Cream, thank you for your support and welcome to the Bay Area! We're thrilled to be the non-profit partner of Museum of Ice Cream in San Francisco. The Museum of Ice Cream is a pop-up experience that celebrates ice cream, imagination, and play; their mission, "to design environments that bring people together and provoke imagination" is one we share and celebrate!

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Museum of Ice Cream opens Sunday, September 17 at 1 Grant Ave in San Francisco.

Follow them on Instagram @museumoficecream

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