Jim Cooper - Q & A
Q & A: Ceramic artist Jim Cooper
1. Your work references The Beatles Sergeant Pepper Lonely Hearts Club Band. Why did you choose this album?
It’s a great, well crafted album. It’s a classic. I was in a record store a few days ago and it was in a recommended 50 best albums list. I’ve always had a fondness for psychedelic music. I think the cover set a new benchmark for artists. It was just a matter of time before I made it.
2. Who is your favourite character in the exhibition?
There are a couple of pieces - it changes daily. One of them is a charming, folky black suit bowler hat guy. It is just a nice simple honest piece.
3. Do you have a favourite lyric?
Yes I do have a favourite lyric. I think George Harrison said it beautifully on ‘Within you and without you”, with our love we can change the world. Remember you are very small and life flows on within you and without you.
4. What’s the first album that you ever bought?
The first couple of albums I got were underground by the electric prunes and stage fright by the Band - somehow they ended up in a bin of deleted records. I think the covers were damaged. I think both albums are still fantastic in fact I just brought underground on CD the other day. I was about 14 I think when I got them.