Arthur "Art" Clokey, a trailblazing figure in the realm of stop motion clay animation, first ventured into the medium in 1955 with an innovative film experiment called Gumbasia, heavily influenced by his esteemed professor, Slavko Vorkapich, at the University of Southern California.
This groundbreaking project laid the foundation for the creation of Gumby, a beloved character he co-invented with his wife Ruth, along with Gumby's trusty steed Pokey. The dynamic duo has since become an integral part of television history, featuring in numerous series, including their debut on the iconic Howdy Doody Show and later The Adventures of Gumby.
Gumby's enduring popularity received a significant boost in the 1980s when American comedian and actor Eddie Murphy humorously parodied the character in a memorable skit on Saturday Night Live. This resurgence in interest was further fueled by the release of Gumby: The Movie in the 1990s.
In addition to his work on Gumby, Clokey's second most notable creation is the duo of Davey and Goliath, which was generously funded by the Lutheran Church in America.
