Keri Richards found Superior, “kinda sorta” on accident. She often tells people that she could say an alien space ship dropped her off and it was just a good fit. Keri is a ceramic artist, performer and volunteer.
Her ceramic art is available for purchase usually during local art shows, she had one of her first major art sale during the 2016 Prickly Pear Festival and she was pleased with her sales. She is also a mime and a stilt walking clown. She offers affordable rates for corporate and private parties and events. She is hoping to have her ceramic art for sale at various shops in Superior as she creates more products.
While many of us may have thought that clown school was just a myth or a way to joke with someone, learning to clown and mime is really an education one can receive. Keri attended college and learned from professors who actually trained under the famous Mime and clown Marcel Marceau. Marceau was famous for his stage persona, “Bip the Clown”
Keri explained that preparing to perform as a clown is a process. First you have to wash off the day, wash off the negativity and anything that would hold you back from doing your job.” Then the makeup and costume process begins and it is out the door to make people happy. Once she begins her process, she is Kozzi Kozmos a stilt walking clown. She learned to walk on stilts when she was a young girl, they had to cross a creek to get to school and home so we would use the “johnny walkers” to cross the creek and keep our shoes dry, she explained.
Kozzi has performed outside of the Phoenix Suns games when Charles Barkley, Kevin Johnson and Dan Marjle were the star players. She has also been contracted to perform outside of the Lady Gaga concert. Some of these performances are booked through her agents. She was once booked to perform at the birthday party for the children of Shaq.
If you are looking to book Kozzi for an event you can contact her directly at 480-982-4500.
When Keri is not busy working on her ceramic art or performing, she volunteers at the Caboose Visitor Center and with the Future Forward Foundation.
Her advice to others: “Stay true to yourself, have integrity and keep going,” she said.