Featured Artist: Maria Cooper
*Where do you get your inspiration from?
The idea for this exhibition came when I was planning to return to NZ to live after many years living in the US. I spent a lot of time thinking about what makes us ‘attached’ to home . I was fascinated with the slightly intangible impressions in my memory of what was important to me. The textures and colours of the land, sea and sky. NZ has some very particular shades of green that I haven’t really seen elsewhere in my travels. Birds feature a lot in my work – in particular migratory birds – I liked the idea that there are subliminal processes/ compulsions at work that result in them coming to the right physical location at the right time.
* Who is your favourite artist?
One of my favourite Jewellery artist is Jane Dodd. Her work has a wonderful ‘storytelling’ quality about it, and feels rather otherworldly. She uses fairly traditional materials, like silver, gold, shell, but manages to create beautiful textures and depth.
* What artist movement(s) do you feel most inspired by?
I really love Pointillism – the work of Georges Seurat. I love the vibrant colours and impressionistic feel, but I am drawn to the control and patience that it must take to create the work it self. It seems like it would be quite meditative to me to paint like that. I am interested in human motivation, so I find a lot that appeals to me across different art movements - I like perceiving the world from others point of view, and thinking about the context that led to the particular movements
*Talk about your art...how do you feel you art has evolved since you first picked up a paint brush?
Well I would consider myself a ‘Maker’ and a jeweller primarily, although I use paint and enamels in my work, and also more sculptural materials too like clay. With jewellery there is some necessary technical skill involved to make sure things fit, hold together, sit right, etc so initially my work was focused on ‘typical’ things, like making rings, pendants, earrings, for their own sake, to develop skill. I like with jewellery that things still need to ‘work’ in many cases. It is not enough to achieve a certain look, I have to think about its function, weather it will last, stand up to wear. Right since my early days of making, I have felt the need to represent my more conceptual ideas through the medium of jewellery too. I can't really pinpoint why that is, except I like the idea that jewellery allows the wearer to carry things around with them in their daily life.
*What do you aim to do within your artwork?
I really make at least two ‘types’ of work. On the one hand, I make more traditional work that I like to hope is beautiful, or handsome in some way, and has an enduring quality to it.
And my other strand of work is more conceptual – the scale and materials are different and the ideas that led to its creation are more complex. I might want someone to think about something, or perhaps to be affected differently by the piece. How others actually perceive or react to the work is largely out of my hands, but my intention is there.
* Are there any exhibitions or art events you went to recently that most impressed you and why were you impressed?
There is a modern art gallery just outside of New York called Dia Beacon. There was an exhibition there by Franz Erhard Waltheran. At first I could not tell what the work was about. It was in a beige room, and had a vaguely militaristic feel - there were all kinds of folded canvas piles – almost like when you are getting ready to head home from a camping trip – the tent etc is all folded in piles ready to go in the car. The docent came and explained that the works needed to be “activated” by the viewers. Some works you had to open up and climb inside, some needed multiple participants, which made my kiwi self-consciousness come out in full force. Once I gave in to feeling silly – the act of being literally involved in these artworks with others really made them powerful, and the experience has lingered with me more strongly than with any other art that I have seen.
* In your opinion, what makes good art?
This question is a bit like “how long is a piece of string”. One of the very joys of art is its subjective quality – what I love, you may dislike, and both perspectives are valid. I have a real love of all kinds of art, both traditional and modern, and I love functional objects like furniture that have some form of elevated beauty or form. I guess for me, evidence of technical skill or precision are qualities I like to see.
*Do you have a website?
Some of my jewellery is available through www.theforgery.co.nz. I can be contacted about commission work on mettleshop@gmail.com
* What do you like most about Kumeu Arts Centre?
I am so impressed by the talents of our local artists. There is much work on show of a really high caliber. I love knowing I’m surrounded by people very dedicated to their craft. I also love that the centre has such a learning focus across a large range of mediums – I think making art is good for the soul, and I think that most people could find some joy in learning to express themselves through art if they can discover the medium that works for them (I find myself much more easily able to work with hard materials that offer some resistance – more pliable materials like paint or clay are much more challenging for me).
* What would you like to change/improve in Kumeu Arts Centre?
The location of the centre means that a lot of people don’t realize it is there. I would love to see the outside of the space utilized, to help make the centre more of a destination - perhaps as an area for sculpture, or interactive works, or with a café so people come with a view to staying for a while
*Where do you get your inspiration from?
The idea for this exhibition came when I was planning to return to NZ to live after many years living in the US. I spent a lot of time thinking about what makes us ‘attached’ to home . I was fascinated with the slightly intangible impressions in my memory of what was important to me. The textures and colours of the land, sea and sky. NZ has some very particular shades of green that I haven’t really seen elsewhere in my travels. Birds feature a lot in my work – in particular migratory birds – I liked the idea that there are subliminal processes/ compulsions at work that result in them coming to the right physical location at the right time.
* Who is your favourite artist?
One of my favourite Jewellery artist is Jane Dodd. Her work has a wonderful ‘storytelling’ quality about it, and feels rather otherworldly. She uses fairly traditional materials, like silver, gold, shell, but manages to create beautiful textures and depth.
* What artist movement(s) do you feel most inspired by?
I really love Pointillism – the work of Georges Seurat. I love the vibrant colours and impressionistic feel, but I am drawn to the control and patience that it must take to create the work it self. It seems like it would be quite meditative to me to paint like that. I am interested in human motivation, so I find a lot that appeals to me across different art movements - I like perceiving the world from others point of view, and thinking about the context that led to the particular movements
*Talk about your art...how do you feel you art has evolved since you first picked up a paint brush?
Well I would consider myself a ‘Maker’ and a jeweller primarily, although I use paint and enamels in my work, and also more sculptural materials too like clay. With jewellery there is some necessary technical skill involved to make sure things fit, hold together, sit right, etc so initially my work was focused on ‘typical’ things, like making rings, pendants, earrings, for their own sake, to develop skill. I like with jewellery that things still need to ‘work’ in many cases. It is not enough to achieve a certain look, I have to think about its function, weather it will last, stand up to wear. Right since my early days of making, I have felt the need to represent my more conceptual ideas through the medium of jewellery too. I can't really pinpoint why that is, except I like the idea that jewellery allows the wearer to carry things around with them in their daily life.
*What do you aim to do within your artwork?
I really make at least two ‘types’ of work. On the one hand, I make more traditional work that I like to hope is beautiful, or handsome in some way, and has an enduring quality to it.
And my other strand of work is more conceptual – the scale and materials are different and the ideas that led to its creation are more complex. I might want someone to think about something, or perhaps to be affected differently by the piece. How others actually perceive or react to the work is largely out of my hands, but my intention is there.
* Are there any exhibitions or art events you went to recently that most impressed you and why were you impressed?
There is a modern art gallery just outside of New York called Dia Beacon. There was an exhibition there by Franz Erhard Waltheran. At first I could not tell what the work was about. It was in a beige room, and had a vaguely militaristic feel - there were all kinds of folded canvas piles – almost like when you are getting ready to head home from a camping trip – the tent etc is all folded in piles ready to go in the car. The docent came and explained that the works needed to be “activated” by the viewers. Some works you had to open up and climb inside, some needed multiple participants, which made my kiwi self-consciousness come out in full force. Once I gave in to feeling silly – the act of being literally involved in these artworks with others really made them powerful, and the experience has lingered with me more strongly than with any other art that I have seen.
* In your opinion, what makes good art?
This question is a bit like “how long is a piece of string”. One of the very joys of art is its subjective quality – what I love, you may dislike, and both perspectives are valid. I have a real love of all kinds of art, both traditional and modern, and I love functional objects like furniture that have some form of elevated beauty or form. I guess for me, evidence of technical skill or precision are qualities I like to see.
*Do you have a website?
Some of my jewellery is available through www.theforgery.co.nz. I can be contacted about commission work on mettleshop@gmail.com
* What do you like most about Kumeu Arts Centre?
I am so impressed by the talents of our local artists. There is much work on show of a really high caliber. I love knowing I’m surrounded by people very dedicated to their craft. I also love that the centre has such a learning focus across a large range of mediums – I think making art is good for the soul, and I think that most people could find some joy in learning to express themselves through art if they can discover the medium that works for them (I find myself much more easily able to work with hard materials that offer some resistance – more pliable materials like paint or clay are much more challenging for me).
* What would you like to change/improve in Kumeu Arts Centre?
The location of the centre means that a lot of people don’t realize it is there. I would love to see the outside of the space utilized, to help make the centre more of a destination - perhaps as an area for sculpture, or interactive works, or with a café so people come with a view to staying for a while