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| HEX Series - Photogravures - 1993 |
On June 11th my friend Ian Bateson went to a show at Yukiko Onley’s Visual Space Gallery. I wrote a preview here.
Even though I knew about Coop’s work I was completely
astounded by the show.
At age 77 I am an amateur photographer. I never went to school to study the profession which I have practiced successfully in Vancouver since 1976.
I have photographed modern dancers, ballet dancers,
strippers since 1980. I have gone to countless dance performances and
interviewed dancers. I know nothing of dance. I am not a dance critic.
Since 1989 I have exhibited my photographs in galleries here
in Vancouver, in Alberta, Buenos Aires and most recently in Venice. Some may
say I am an artist. I would not know.
I am not an art critic.
I am not an art critic.
Based on my above ignorance while having been exposed to art
most of my life I can state with 100% certainty that Elsbeth Coop is one of the
most startlingly original artists of our city.
I do not believe that she lives under the shadow of her
better known sister Jane Coop, pianist and music professor at UBC. If anything I believe
that Jane Coop has been instrumental in bringing Elsbeth Coop’s work to be seen
for the first time since the early 2000s.
If there is any logic (intelligence) in the artistic circles of our fair
city, Elspeth Coop should not fade away. Her work has to see the light
again.
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| Flor de la Vida - Acrylic on Canvas - 2003 |
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| 51st Street Stop - Acrylic on canvas |
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| Rat In Someone Else's Maze - Acrylic on canvas |
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| Poupée - Photogravure |