John Cooper: Golden Years
at Touchstones Nelson: Museum of Art and History
August 2nd to September 28th, 2008

This exhibition aims to show the many facets of John Cooper that have been hidden by the passage of time, new interests and directions.  John began his arts career in the early sixties and his energy hasn’t abated over the last almost half century.  Born in Missouri, John studied at Phillips University in Oklahoma and completed his master’s degree at University of Washington, Seattle in 1965.  The beginning of his career was marked by the tumultuous sixties and the transition in art from the abstract expressionism of Jackson Pollock to the pop art Andy Warhol.  John drew his influence from many of his contemporaries before he settled in the Kootenays in the early seventies.  Since that time he has become known as a master of colour in both his painting and his teachings.

The work in the exhibition includes a film by David Churches called Harris Grocery that stars a youthful Cooper and begins to explain his life long relationship with objects.  Like Picasso, Cooper can never just see an object without seeing another and another until a hat stretcher becomes the head of his alter ego Walter Williams or a chair leg becomes a nose.  Unfortunately, due to a fire, much of his work from the sixties was lost.  The images that remain have been transferred to digital media and are also presented along with many paintings, sculptures and objects.  All of this Cooper-billia brought together in one place only begins to tell the story of a life of richness and beauty.

Join us at Touchstones Nelson for this opportunity to explore the works of one of Nelson’s most renowned artists.  Members are invited to the opening reception on Sunday, August 3rd, 1 to 3pm.