We recently had the chance to connect with Jodie Roth Cooper and have shared our conversation below.
Jodie, we’re thrilled to have you with us today. Before we jump into your intro and the heart of the interview, let’s start with a bit of an ice breaker: What do you think is misunderstood about your business?
People see only a tiny part of what goes into the work artists do to survive. I think the perception can be that as an artist one leads a relatively simple life, where one just goes about their business of making art and getting paid to do so. The reality of the complexities and stresses involved are starkly different. The amount of energy expended in order to just get by and stay in the game can feel equivalent to running a nuclear power plant in order to illuminate a small reading lamp. There are constantly carrots being dangled in front of you, a vast majority of which lead to nothing. Weeks and months of work, often uncompensated, never see the light of day. All of the resources returned from successful projects have to go into producing new sculpture as this is the only opportunity to make work that is not diluted by a committee or client. I personally have a two decade backlog of unexplored ideas due to lack of resources and the massive amount of time that is consumed by pursuing money to “maintain”. A culture has developed of having artists pitted against one another in composition to “win” projects rather artists being invited based on their previous work and merit to engage in doing their best work. This creates unnecessary tension within the art community and does not result in the best work being produced. It also means that the job of artist is in fact in trying to secure paying work rather than the production of authentic art.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I am an artist-designer-fabricator with some background, including my graduate degree, in architecture. I have worked for myself for the last 11 years here in Colorado. Beginning in the RiNo neighborhood of Denver and five and a half years ago moving to a rural community in Teller County, west of Colorado Springs.
My practice as an artist has always been my primary focus, however having the ability to do design work and architectural fabrication at a high level has been and continues to be a vital and loved aspect of my livelihood. My passion for art and making art extends back to my childhood, the fabrication followed in my 2o’s after realizing I have a knack for making stuff through “metalsmithing” in college. In recent years I have been fortunate to have a majority of my work be purely art, while continuing to do some design and fabrication work.
This year myself and Collin Parson, another local artist, started Bendto Box, a series of products designed and produced by us here in Colorado. Bendto Box products are designed around the concept of steel flatpack, home and business, furnishings including various boxes, planters, shelves and other display and storage solutions, check them out at www.bendtobox.com!
Okay, so here’s a deep one: What’s a moment that really shaped how you see the world?
Understanding that the real societal distinction between child and adult is the acceptance of double standards. The irony being that when and if you develop a healthy relationship with yourself and actually become an adult this hypocrisy is of course completely unacceptable.
When you were sad or scared as a child, what helped?
Humor.
I think our readers would appreciate hearing more about your values and what you think matters in life and career, etc. So our next question is along those lines. What’s a belief or project you’re committed to, no matter how long it takes?
Being an artist is a life long commitment.
Thank you so much for all of your openness so far. Maybe we can close with a future oriented question. What do you understand deeply that most people don’t?
The value of truly connecting with yourself in isolation and listening to and honoring your subconscious. Understanding that there is a universal consciousness that connects the natural world and that this is paramount to culture and society; and that consciousness is an integral part of reality.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.jodierothcooper.com
- Instagram: @jodierothcooper
Image Credits
All photos taken by myself.
