We recently connected with Keri White and have shared our conversation below.

Keri, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. When did you first know you wanted to pursue a creative/artistic path professionally?

I knew when I was in kindergarten, I wanted to be a commercial artist. It was 1985, the concept was new back then. My kindergarten teacher didn’t know what I was talking about. I spent weekends at my grandma‘s house, scouring her magazines and somehow got my hands on Rolling Stone. It was there I learned about musicians, design and the arts, and of course, the coolest guy of all time to me at that time Andy Warhol. I was fascinated by him because he was totally prolific. There was nobody else like him in my mind. I learned from reading about artists and their processes… I truly wanted to know what made them tick and inspired them. Their stories, why they create what they create. What made them want to get up in the morning and get to work. I went to college for graphic design and while I was in college, I was substitute teaching. It was in doing that, that I found out I wanted to teach children and help people of all ages through art. I taught elementary art education for many years before getting my masters in counseling.. I think I became interested in people’s stories because of my own childhood/generational trauma. I realized that if art could heal me, it could heal others too. I have now been an art educator for 20 years. I work in the public school system and also for an Art Gallery called Oklahoma Contemporary. This path has allowed me to reach children who are experiencing hardship & help them find safe space to be, to grow & to create. It is exceptionally important in today’s cultural divide and uncertainty. I incorporate cultural experiences and story telling to my students, which for some is their only access to experiences outside their home or community.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I am most proud when I see former students who have chased their dreams. I stay in contact with several of them and their families, both in Oklahoma, and California . I live next to a University and some former students have come to visit me & catch up, even stay for a warm meal after finals.

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

I have had to pivot a lot in my life, but art has always been there. My mom was a single parent and we moved often. Making new friends was always a challenge as a shy kid but I could keep myself company with journaling and drawing. As an adult I’ve moved a lot too, whether it be for marriage, or divorce, job opportunity or aging family members who need my help… Art has always been my North Star, my grounding, my comfort and peace, my savior, my means to an end and my livelihood.

What can society do to ensure an environment that’s helpful to artists and creatives?

Our communities can best support art educators by recognizing the value it has for their children and get involved themselves! I love when families take part in art together because they put down their phones & screens and they talk and laugh together. They learn something new together and that feels pretty great! What a lot of people don’t realize is tapping into the creative brain will form connections and boost higher level thinking in all subject areas. It’s also cathartic!

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @_keri_irek_
• Facebook: @keriwhite