Who needs a blank canvas when you have a yard-sale lampshade? For Crescent City teen artist Savannah Burke, any object is an invitation to tell a story—“a chance to leave it better than I found it,” they say.

Some of Savannah’s earliest memories are of transforming yard‑sale treasures their mother hauled home. “We didn’t have much,” they recall, “but I could always make something work and discover what felt uniquely me.” Scribbles dated 2007—around Savannah’s first birthday—prove the point: “I’ve always been an artist. It’s who I am.”

That lifelong habit of creating art out of anything recently earned Savannah a place in Artists Breaking Barriers, a KEET‑PBS documentary profiling five Northern California students who wield creativity as civic action. The film shows Savannah's unique style and talent while reflecting on how art amplifies voices that might otherwise stay silent.

Inspiration, Savannah laughs, rarely follows a schedule. “Sometimes I’m on the floor with snacks and mixed‑media supplies, painting until 2 a.m.” Their best‑known work—the lampshade—began as thrifted décor and became an accidental masterpiece when the black paint ran out. “I finished the back in red. Against the wall, it glows—it’s gorgeous.”

Many of Savannah’s pieces begin the same. “My art often comes from how I feel when I’m low. It shows why teen mental health matters,” they explain. Painting became a refuge during bouts of loneliness, and while experiencing health issues as a child, and sharing that honesty forged unexpected connections—most notably with classmate Graysen Johansen, a poet who also appears in the documentary. “I realized how similar poetry is to my art—and how art can connect us all.”

To peers wrestling with heavy emotions, Savannah offers simple advice: “Don’t hold them in. Get them out, and help others by sharing the true meaning of your art.” Whether brushed onto a lampshade or jotted into a poem, their message is clear: creativity is not just self‑expression; it’s community building.

Catch Savannah’s story on the big screen in Artists Breaking Barriers, KEET‑PBS’s new documentary spotlighting North Coast teens who turn creativity into community action. The film offers unfiltered looks at her work‑in‑progress, behind‑the‑scenes moments of her public installations, and a post‑show meet‑and‑greet with the two student artists from Del Norte. It debuts for a hometown screening on May 10 at 6 p.m. at 400 W Harding Ave, at the Del Norte Community School IMC.

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See the Film, Meet the Artist

Date & Time

May 7 · 7 p.m. (Sneak‑peek screening & Q&A)
May 10 · 6 p.m. (Hometown premiere)
May 13 · 8 p.m. (Television debut)

Location

Arcata Playhouse
Del Norte Community School (IMC)
KEET‑TV broadcast & live stream