Monthly Art Mixers

Mitchell White 

Mitchell White is a native of Livingston, Tennessee. He earned his BS in Art Education at Tennessee Technological University, with a focus in painting. He is an art instructor at Cookeville High School in Cookeville, Tennessee, where he also serves as the chairman of the department of fine arts.

Dr. Carol Ventura

Dr. Carol Ventura was the art historian at Tennessee Technological University from 1994 until 2021. She is still actively involved in the arts as Professor Emerita. Carol has also taught ceramics, photography, printmaking, silversmithing, enameling, basketry, tapestry crochet, and weaving. She worked with a weaving cooperative in Guatemala as a Peace Corps volunteer from 1976-80 and later wrote a bilingual book about backstrap weaving. Carol also authored three books about tapestry crochet, another Guatemalan craft.

​

Carol’s scholarly papers and articles have been published in both refereed journals and the popular press. Her studio background adds an extra dimension to her teaching and writing because she understands how crafts and art are made. Carol has presented papers at international conferences and her award-winning ceramics, fiber art, glass, jewelry, and photographs have been included in over a hundred exhibitions. Carol’s web page at CarolVentura.com features craftspeople and artists she has met around the world.

Leah Looper

Leah Looper is a fine arts teacher at Cookeville High School in Cookeville, Tennessee. She was a recipient of the Nichols Freshman Art Scholarship and the Bacchanal Scholarships at TTU and graduated with a BFA in Art Education, concentrating in painting and ceramics. At Cookeville High School she enjoys teaching the fundamentals of the elements and principles of art & design as well as the honors ceramics course.