MELODY COOPER
TEACHING EXPERIENCE
Glendale Community College, Glendale, CA
Cerritos Community College, Norwalk, CA
Pierce Community College, Woodland Hills, CA
Barnsdall Art Center, Hollywood, CA
California State University, Northridge, CA
Los Angeles County High School of the Arts, Los Angeles, CA
Burlington Community Gardens Art Project, Inner City, Los Angeles, CA
Franklin Avenue School, Los Angeles, CA
BIOGRAPHY
I have been teaching art for the past decade. Currently and for the past 5 years I have been teaching ceramics at colleges and art schools throughout southern California. I began teaching in conjunction with Vortex gallery, an interactive art space of which I was the proprietor and curator in the early 90's. Vortex space sponsored art shows, concerts, poetry readings, drum jams, writing workshops, etc. Working with so many artists, my great interest in ceramics was awakened, which led me into more serious studies in the medium of clay. I was attending Glendale Community College at that time and later transferred to Cal State Northridge in order to complete my B.A and M.A in Fine Arts. During grad school and post graduation I taught art (ceramics, 3 dimensional design, drawing, painting, metal design, precious metal clay, mixed media) at various schools. My students have ranged in age from 3 to 90 years old. I have been involved in organizing and originating art programs in K-6 schools and inimpoverished areas of Los Angeles.
"Chardon", 1999, White Stoneware, Wheel thrown and carved
Lung Chuan celadon
My artwork has had many directions. I admire the work of artists Lucy Rie, Hans Coper, Peter Voulkos, Constantin Brancusi and I hope that that admiration has its way with my own creations. I have studied with Lucy Lewis, Howard Tollefson, and Rob Kibler, all of whom have had influence upon my artwork. I enjoy a mix of wheel throwing and handbuilding. Surface embellishment (texture, carving, mishima, sgraffito), as well as pure form have always attracted me and been a focus for my experimentation within the medium. For me clay offers endless discovery.
