Talk about a timey wimey artistic journey through life to romance and a thriving partnership. Artist Kim Barry came from a family of musicians and artists in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Selected into the Carnegie-Mellon’s institute for gifted children, she pursued her artistic journey into adulthood both internationally and nationally, including San Marco’s Stellers Gallery. Her impressive artistic resume even includes exhibiting at the Louvre in Paris with the International Art Fair. Kim attended Penn State, and, at her mother’s encouragement, pursued the business aspect of art as well as the creative side.
Meanwhile, Clark Creamer was born in Riverside Hospital and lived in Murray Hill and Green Cove Springs. He served in the military and attended FSCJ all while he “collected skills through apprenticeships with underground comics and animatronics” before finally settling in Riverside.
Kim had made her way to Jacksonville and the two met in 2006 through the artist network at Jacksonville’s Art Walk. Kim and Clark stayed in touch when she moved to Los Angeles just a few years later in 2010 with 50 other Jacksonville artists and the two reconnected at Art Walk in 2021. As they said, “We were alone, but we haven’t been alone since.”
That serendipitous meeting was the beginning of a romantic, artistic, and business relationship. Kim was establishing a studio, sixthreefourjax, in Fairfax and Clark said, “Whatever you’re doing, I’m in!”
The studio was an event space and art gallery combined, though they closed it in 2023 to focus on their internet gallery because “the gallery concept has shifted to a more universal viewing concept rather than walk ins.”
Clark said he was attracted to Kim for her “strength in knowing her purpose – and she was pretty.”
“He killed 27 nests of wasps for me at the studio and he is so supportive of me,” Kim said. “There’s no competition. He lets me shine. It’s rare to find a man that doesn’t take over. He’s really my friend.”
The two married in a “kitschy 4th of July theme wedding” and have been partners in their business and their lives ever since, settling into old Ortega, where they established a home base and where they enjoy the owls, eagles and nature.
They share a studio and even collaborate on certain art pieces. In a series called “Bold City Scapes,” Kim paints the colors and shapes then Clark comes in with the details. They say they are their own organization. They share a philosophy of having a good time all the time and part of that includes campfires, gardening, reading, and kayaking.
Clark’s gift is to encourage people who are down and out and to make people feel welcome.
“You’ll manifest whatever you focus on, and I want to be positive and make pretty art,” he said.
Among other ventures, Clark creates commissioned paintings of residences, fine art pieces inspired by vintage Florida postcards and his beloved superheroes. During the pandemic he designed the Duval Crest in an effort to bring Jacksonville together and generate local jobs. The brand creates many products including pens, mugs, ball caps and T-shirts which local realtors frequently give to new homeowners.
The pair “chill” to VaporWave ambient music as they work in their side-by-side creative spaces, saying it’s “like background music but cooler and great for painting.”
Barry lives by what she calls the philosophy of the “buried child,” explaining, “I want to hold on to the joy and innocence of a child as I gain the wisdom of age to balance it out.”
They’ve never followed a linear path, nor do they expect to as they continue to explore new possibilities, promote their Duval Crest products, seek out new challenges and delve into their imaginations.
A fun insight into their personalities is to compare their favorite movies. Cowboy-at-heart Clark loves all old television Westerns and his favorite movie is “Evil Roy Slade” a salute to westerns. Kim, who loves the wonder of life and believes anything is possible, is a fan of “The Never Ending Story. “
Their work can be viewed at kimbarrystudio.com and duvalcrest.com.
