Interview with Artist Jesse White
1. What feelings are you trying to evoke in “streetlampdancer”?
The girl in “streetlampdancer” dances despite the distress around her. She is centered within and dances for herself, choosing to ignore the storm, the shouting, the barking and even her lost shoe. She feels the bliss of knowing and loving herself. My intention is for those who see the piece to resonate with her joy, and to be encouraged to “dance” when they are called to do so.
2. What is the best advice you have ever been given as an artist?
“What’s your greatest creative fear? That is the thing you must do.” I have found that when we survive our fears and fully discover our resilience, we can transform our fears into a stable, fertile ground. It takes solid ground to leap forward.
3. If you could ask an artist to paint you (either present or past), who would it be and why?
I’d ask Susan Seddon-Boulet to paint my portrait because I believe her visionary approach to painting would capture my spirit and my mystical relationship with God.
Jesse White is an expressionistic artist, poet, teacher and spiritual leader. She currently serves as the Arts & Spirituality Coordinator at Pendle Hill (a Quaker spiritual education center), a Teaching Artist for Artwell (where she teaches children poetry), and the Director of Pigeon Arts (a cathartic art-making organization serving Greater Philadelphia, PA). Jesse's paintings, altered books, and photography have been exhibited throughout Pennsylvania and North Carolina, and in London, England and Medellín, Columbia. Her poetry has been included in several publications including The Apiary (online), Quaker Life and The Lighthouse. For more information, please visit www.pigeon-arts.com.
The girl in “streetlampdancer” dances despite the distress around her. She is centered within and dances for herself, choosing to ignore the storm, the shouting, the barking and even her lost shoe. She feels the bliss of knowing and loving herself. My intention is for those who see the piece to resonate with her joy, and to be encouraged to “dance” when they are called to do so.
2. What is the best advice you have ever been given as an artist?
“What’s your greatest creative fear? That is the thing you must do.” I have found that when we survive our fears and fully discover our resilience, we can transform our fears into a stable, fertile ground. It takes solid ground to leap forward.
3. If you could ask an artist to paint you (either present or past), who would it be and why?
I’d ask Susan Seddon-Boulet to paint my portrait because I believe her visionary approach to painting would capture my spirit and my mystical relationship with God.
Jesse White is an expressionistic artist, poet, teacher and spiritual leader. She currently serves as the Arts & Spirituality Coordinator at Pendle Hill (a Quaker spiritual education center), a Teaching Artist for Artwell (where she teaches children poetry), and the Director of Pigeon Arts (a cathartic art-making organization serving Greater Philadelphia, PA). Jesse's paintings, altered books, and photography have been exhibited throughout Pennsylvania and North Carolina, and in London, England and Medellín, Columbia. Her poetry has been included in several publications including The Apiary (online), Quaker Life and The Lighthouse. For more information, please visit www.pigeon-arts.com.