Heather Kipper, Director, One River School Evanston (IL)

Tell us a little bit about you and your background.

Most of the vacations I had growing up were not to tropical destinations or historic monuments, but a 40-mile drive away from the Illinois suburbs to “the city” of Chicago. Our frequent trips to the Art Institute of Chicago are some of my earliest memories and were my first introduction to a life-long obsession with the visual arts. In addition to being an “art kid” throughout my childhood and teen years, I went on to study Art Education and obtain my K-12 Illinois teaching certification with hopes of educating and inspiring others interested in the study and practice of making. After teaching K-12 art in public schools, my career shifted to working in higher education with adults as a creative programs recruiter. While my undergraduate concentration was in drawing and painting, my post-baccalaureate education and work have primarily been in commercial photography and image manipulation. I recently “retired” from photography so I could spend my off-time with my family and explore making art for my own creative growth and enjoyment again! On March 2nd, 2020 I flew to NJ for corporate training with One River. The week after training we shifted gears to virtual classes due to the pandemic and it’s been a wild ride full of twists and turns ever since! Looking back, I’ve really enjoyed watching this company transition and grow at such a pivotal moment. It shows people need and will support the arts even in the most challenging times.

What attracted you to work at One River School?

The One River mission of providing quality art education to communities outside of major cities and the focus on contemporary living artists!

How would you describe your role here?

As the Evanston School Director, my role can be distilled down to a culture creator and arts advocate. I get to craft relationships with artists, educators, students, parents, and community members that all share a common interest in the creative process. Some days that looks like directing all of the processes that make our operations run smoothly and other days I get to be hands-on at events, in the classroom, or in our gallery!

What do you think we do best at One River?

WE HAVE FUN! The projects are unique and we approach art-making in new and creative ways.

Is there a special One River moment that stands out for you?

I’ve experienced so many special moments here at One River that it’s hard to pinpoint just one! When I was gone on maternity leave this past summer, I asked one of our students to water my plants at the studio. When I came back my plants were in better condition than when I left them – thriving actually! The pride and care that the student, Edison, took caring for my plants while I was away is the same type of pride and care we share as a community at One River.

What do you enjoy outside of One River?

I am a new mom to an adorable baby boy named Finch. Most of my time outside of One River is spent taking care of my new tiny human and fixing up our 100-year-old Chicago bungalow. I treasure outdoor movie nights projected on the back of my garage, a good biography or documentary, stand-up comedy, collecting old film cameras, classic arcade or NES video games, and being an avid cultural consumer. I also enjoy family strolls to our local park with my highly energetic dog, Wallace.