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Patti has identified herself as an artist from the moment she put crayon to coloring book, never allowing conventional colors to dictate her expression of the way the circus elephant should be attired or the hue of his wrinkly skin (lavender was a big favorite). In elementary school, she dazzled teachers, parents, and fellow students alike with her seasonal and holiday murals that graced the walls of her classrooms and the halls of the school. As a high school student, she traveled from her home in Great Falls, Montana to Chicago where she competed for and won a first place award for Ad Layout. After a stint as a John Robert Powers model in New York where she developed a stronger understanding of and affinity for color and fabric, Patti returned to Great Falls to marry Coop Cooprider, a highly successful businessman who earned a living as an artist in his early years and is enormously supportive of Patti in all her endeavors, especially her art. For many years, Patti's own work was a simple outlet for her creative soul that she engaged in, not in a formal way, but during any free moment in her activity-filled existence. Gradually, she found she had put together a substantial body of work that needed to be shared with friends and other interested lovers of art. Her work was exhibited in group shows in Germany at the Deutsche Bank and Sparkasse Bank in 1978. Not content to simply exhibit her own pieces, she coordinated art shows and exhibits at Department of Defense installations in Germany. While living in Germany for twenty-six years, Patti's fantastic energy allowed her to raise seven children, work for the Department of Defense, travel extensively and often, and earn a bachelor's degree from the University of Maryland in art history. Unlike the traditional degrees in art history which are gained primarily in classrooms and from text books, Patti had the unique advantage of courses taught in venues all over Europe from the Prado in Madrid to the Pushkin in Moscow where the original canvases, sculpture, and other media could be studied under the auspices of her mentor, Dr. Jean Mandola. In addition, Patti's self confident and assertive nature allowed her to make contact with and be entertained in the homes of living artists such as Henry Moore, Friedensreich Hundertwasser, and, in particular, Marc Chagall and his wife, Vava, with whom Patti maintained a correspondence until Vava's death. Her wealth of knowledge makes her an ideal docent, a volunteer task she takes on happily, especially for groups of children in the San Diego area where she is sponsored by the University of California at San Diego Art Outreach Program. While living in Germany, Patti designed the Picture Lady program for the children of Military families. Patti would go to the various schools in the area where she would present art from an historical perspective displaying large reproductions of art masterpieces and leading the children in lively discussions. Patti engaged their minds in the visual stimulation elicited by the artwork and encouraged them to relate to the art from the perspective of their own ages and interests. Lifestyle Unlike many artists who are wholly focused on their own art to the exclusion of all else, Patti is focused on her enchantment with life, and her art is the richer for it. Blessed with almost unlimited energy, Patti has been going non-stop since she was a child. She has a knack for creating deeply felt, long-term interpersonal relationships wherever she may be. Although she has lived many places, both in the United States and abroad, her maintenance of hundreds of friendships is an ongoing commitment. Her husband jokes that she deliberately chooses the longest line at the bank so that she has time to meet and socialize with fellow bank customers. Her caring nature is a gift to the world which results in Patti's initiating or leading unique projects for the benefit of others including tireless support of fellow artists, groups, and institutions dedicated to the promotion of every form of artistic endeavor including the theatre, music, and dance. Collecting Early on, she and her husband became collectors of art as well as "doers." From the work of a little known Italian artist, Diego, to the works of Chagall, Lipschitz, Miro, Picasso, Leger, and Calder among many others, Patti and her husband not only collect the works of great artists, but they live cozily with their pieces in their home to inspire them on a daily basis. For the past several years, Patti and her husband have focused on supporting San Diego artists, occasionally selling some of the work by European artists in order to purchase the work of artists in their own back yard. Her Distinctive Style in Everyday Living In addition to her myriad projects and committees, Patti puts her hand to art on a daily basis. Patti is a prolific correspondent, writing to friends as a form of relaxation at the end of her active days. While most have forgone the handwritten letter for the convenience of email, Patti's need to communicate with her hands as well as her mind does not allow for such an impersonal mode of expression. Not only does she write her letters in her distinctive, rounded and bold script, she creates and executes her own designs for her notepaper so that each note is a unique sample of her artistic style. You can imagine her surprise and pleasure when she discovered that her friends were saving every note they received from her and some had her note cards framed and on display in their homes. There can be no better affirmation for an artist. When Patti is a guest in someone's home, her gift to the host is often a ceramic plate, glass vase, wine glasses, or pitcher which she has painted in her charming and unique style. For Patti, the joy of her art has always been to demonstrate her warm, intimate feelings toward people and the world at large by sharing her artistic vision.  Patti's involvement with the city of San Diego has been monumental in the thirteen years she has worked as a volunteer. A partial list of institutions she serves so unstintingly includes Scripps Hospital, the Children's Museum, the Chamber of Commerce, the La Jolla Playhouse, The Country Friends, the UCSD Art Gallery, the Salvation Army, the Fern Street Circus, and the San Diego Art Institute. In 2002, she was named a San Diego "Woman of Dedication", an honor reserved only for those of exceptional productivity in volunteerism. Leadership roles include the following: BOARD OF DIRECTORS San Diego Art Institute 2003 La Jolla Playhouse, Center Stage Steering Committee 2000-2003 Salvation Army Auxiliary 1996-2003 The Country Friends 1996-2002 Scripps Memorial Hospital 1997-2003 Patrons of the Prado 1998-2001, Senior Vice President 2002-2003 Balboa Theater Foundation 2000-2001 KPBS Program Advisory Board 1998-2000 Museum Art Council, MOCA 1992-1998 CHAIR Mainly Mozart Gala for 2002-2003 La Jolla Center Stage Membership Teas 2002-2003 UCSD Cook Off Press Party 2001 Fern Street Circus Gala 2001, Honorary Chair 2000 Savation Army Toy and Joy Decoration 2000-2003 Salvation Army "Fiesta" Celebration 2002 Salvation Army Membership Tea 2001 The Country Friends Holiday Tea 2000 "70th Anniversary Candlelight Ball" 1999 Vista Hill Foundation-Honorary 1999 "Day at the Races" MOCA 1996-1997 "Collector's Choice" Art Gala 1993 
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(Within U.S.) See Also BONUS OFFER (Click Place an Order) |
Dynamic Duo (Diptych) Two, each 11" x 15" Unframed $550 for both |
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5167 Renaissance Avenue, Box 51, San Diego, CA 92122 (858) 554-0118 Fax (858) 554-0119 Email: coop2@san.rr.com Copyright © 2003 All rights reserved | |
