Artistic Discipline: Visual Arts

“I am especially intrigued by textures that have been created by the passage of time: patina, rust, and even missing parts. With age comes character.”


Shari KeithĀ isĀ a member of theĀ 2016 AZ Creative Aging Teaching ArtistĀ Institute cohort.

The Teaching Artist Institute is a five-month training program that will introduce teaching artists to the variety of settings, programs, and partners that make up the creative aging field, andĀ provide skills-building activities forĀ participants to attain the specialized knowledge needed to work successfully with older adults. Inspired by ArtSage and other national models, the Institute has been developed around the philosophies of person-centered care, a process-based approach, and cultural responsiveness. To learn more about AZ Creative Aging and the Teaching Artist InstituteĀ click here.

Shari Keith is a teaching artist who develops and provides creative art experiences for students of all ages. Based upon her theme of ā€œTransforming Junk Into Treasureā€ and employing found and discarded materials, she calls herself ā€œThe Junk Ladyā€ and her projects emphasize using analysis and synthesis to enable students to explore using non-traditional materials in new ways to create art that is visually exciting and environmentally friendly.

Shari holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree and a Master’s degree in Education.

She works as a Studio Artist for the Tempe Elementary School District where she shares her art form with 4th grade students and has been an artist-in-residence at many schools throughout the Greater Phoenix area. She works with Free Arts of Arizona to provide art experiences for abused, homeless and at-risk youth, and she also provides after-school and summer art programs. She is currently presenting her fourth series of grant-funded Lifetime Arts public library-based programs for adults over age 55, and is an adult educator for the Desert Botanical Garden. Shari presents her workshops at myriad venues including libraries, art centers, community centers, and even city recycling centers.

Shari_Keith_ws10aIn addition to teaching, Shari Keith creates art from found and discarded materials. She was selected as an InFlux Cycle 4 artist by the City of Glendale and created a found-object installation for the Foothills Recreation and Aquatic Center. She also creates jewelry which can be seen in the Vision Gallery in Chandler. Her work has appeared in many juried and invitational shows, her found-object and art-decorated home has been featured in the Arizona Republic, and her work with students was featured in arts&activities magazine.