Gini Cooper
Making glass beads, working with Precious Metal Clay Silver and
fusing glass has been an amazing journey of exploration and discovery
for Gini Cooper. In 2000, she won a scholarship to take a bead
making class at Ox Bow, the Chicago Art Institute’s summer school in
Saugatuck. Within a week of her first class, she had purchased a
torch, a lot of glass and started working at home. In 2002, she took
another class at Ox Bow to focus on making glass sculptures.
Gini’s discovery of Precious Metal Clay Silver (PMC) was a perfect
fit with her glass beads. PMC is made with microscopic pieces of
silver recovered from the x-ray and photography developing process
and mixed with an organic binder to achieve a clay-like substance.
When fired in a kiln, the binder burns out leaving fine silver.
It was a natural evolution for Gini to explore glass fusing; her
fused glass earrings and pendanats are striking in their simplistic
beauty. She has also started making fused glass plates and bowls.
Gini finds inspiration everywhere: the beach, her garden, rocks and
the night sky. Making whimsical pieces are especially enjoyable for
her. Teaching has also been very inspirational for her. She teaches
glass bead making and PMC at Holland Area Arts Council and South
Haven Center for the Arts. She also teaches one-day PMC workshops
around the country.
Gini lives in the Saugatuck area with her musician husband Jim.
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Date: 05/21/2010
Owner: Gallery Administrator
Size: 6 items
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