SCOTT W. COOPER

          Scott Cooper is a full time potter who works out of his studio in Fillmore, Indiana.  He recently built a new studio close by his residence which is full of inventory representing both past and present work. He chiefly sells from there, or on a beautiful site on the internet (www.stearthpottery.com). The quality of his web gallery is owed to the work he did before his full time pottery began. Scott was a full time Web Developer starting with Southern Illinois University and then DePauw University in Greencastle, Indiana.

          He graduated from the University of Iowa, with High Distinction, in 1993. His graduate study was at Southern Illinois University, 1994-95. His did Post Graduate study at Arizona State University from 1998-1999. Mr. Cooper was a Gallery Artist at the Boulder Potters’ Guild and was a Gallery Assistant at both Southern Illinois University and the Nelson Fine Arts Center at Arizona State University in Tempe.

          He was an Assistant Instructor at the Boulder Potters’ Guild, and Ceramics Instructor at DePauw University in Greencastle, Indiana. His Web Development work was for Negentropic Web Studios and DePauw University.

          A large bulk of his sales takes place at both his Spring and Holiday Sales in Fillmore and Greencastle, Indiana, with a steady flow of clientele to his studio. His website has also been a successful outlet for his work.

          Mr. Cooper has been invited to do several exhibitions (too many to list) from Lancaster, PA. to Boulder, CO.

          In relation to his total output, I believe he would term it utilitarian, such as Byron Temple, Warren McKenzie, etc. But, there is a sharp turn at this point in that his many ‘utilitarian’ pieces, along with his very individualistic artistry, set the pieces to be far from simply utilitarian. They stand alone, unused, and make their own deeply artistic statement. His style is distinct. Most of the time he uses these pieces that have been subtly manipulated in form, or profoundly but ever so slightly pinched or poked for their ornamentation. Most of all, they are usually glazed as if they were a blank canvas for his strongly distinct style, as you will see.

          Take time with these pieces, and you will see what I mean when I say there is always increasingly endless content that compels you and draws you in to spend time with the work. I have always found it difficult to break away from them.