St. Petersburg, Fla--- Art is an opportunity for human expression. The disabled adults at Creative Clay in St. Petersburg get to develop their work just as other artists do. The center is offering a special exhibit for Hispanic Heritage Month.

“We are all about equality through art,” said Kerry Kriseman, the center’s Public Relations Manager. “By getting themselves out into the community, they de-mystify a lot of the myths around people with disabilities and what they are capable of.”

Marcus S. created his own world of acceptance and justice when the real one failed him. Marcus was at Creative Clay working on his army of Elven warriors with names like Kari and Kelly.

The fighter he drew is called Buffy.

“Sometimes I think I just draw their hair too large and poofy,” Marcus said, “and I think I like giving Elf girls long poofy hair all the time.”

Marcus is a big fan of magical characters. “I like to see how tough I can make them,” he said. By day, Marcus’ main super hero’s name is also “Marcus.” But his hero's real name is “Dark Flame.”

“I’m the only good hero of darkness, but my character uses his powers to stop the other shadow warriors trying to invade worlds and go insane with power,” he said.

There are a lot of monsters to defeat, like the Slime King.

“Sometimes the bullies try to mess with me,” he said, “but my character knows every martial art in the world, and he’s a super genius.” Marcus started creating this world of elves and shadow warriors when he was a young teen.

“Yeah, I was bullied a lot in my life,” he said, recalling painful times in elementary and middle school.

In fact, he called himself every bully’s punching bag. “Sometimes they would gang up on me, sneak up behind me, punch me, and run off.” But not here. Here he is safe from a bully’s cruelty.

He is respected as an adult and he is recognized for his talent as a Hispanic artist.

“It’s nice to have a few pictures on the wall,” he said. It’s nice too, he says–to be able to share the just world of Dark Flame. “He’s the leaders of the main heroes but it will take more than 14 of us to stop an army,” he explained about the impending war in his universe

Marcus’s art is featured along with two other Hispanic artists at Creative Clay.

The exhibit continues throughout Hispanic Heritage Month.