Michael Jean Cooper
Place of Birth: Richmond, California
EDUCATION
M.F.A. Sculpture, University of California, Berkeley, California
M.A. Sculpture, San Jose State College
B.A. Commercial Art, San Jose State College
PROFESSIONAL BACKGROUND
2004
Instructor, California College of Art, San Francisco, CA
1977-2004
Instructor, De Anza College, Cupertino, CA
1969-1976
Instructor, Foothill College, Los Altos, CA
1969
Instructor, University of California, Berkeley, CA
1966-1967
Graphic Designer, J.L. Brandt and Associates,
Los Altos, CA
1967
Graphic Designer, Graphic Center West,
Sacramento, California
1967-1968
Graphic Designer, Illustrator, Steven Jacobs Design
Associates, Palo Alto, CA
1966-1968
Student and Graduate Assistant, San Jose State
College
GRANTS & AWARDS
1998
American Woodworker Magazine, First Place
Professional Woodworker Award, for Gunshy sculpture, Dec. 1998
1993
President's Award for Outstanding Service,
De Anza College, Cupertino, California
1992
Art of California Magazine Discovery Award - Silver
1990
Sonoma County Woodworkers' Association
Award of Excellence
1979-80
Fellow in Sculpture; American Academy in Rome
1979
Fellowship; Crafts Council of Australia,
Craftsman in Industry
1978
Craftsmen's Fellowship Grant; National Endowment
for the Arts
1977
SECA Award, Society for the Encouragement of
Contemporary Art, San Francisco Museum of
Modern Art
1974
Professional Development Grant, Foothill College
1972
Foothill College Innovations Committee Grant
1969
Eisner Prize for Sculpture, University of
California, Berkeley
1967-68
San Jose State College Associated Student
Body Scholarship
1966
Graduate Research Grant, San Jose State College
1966
Graduated Dean's Scholar, San Jose State College
ONE-MAN EXHIBITIONS
2007
Michael Cooper, Quicksilver Mine Co.Gallery,
Forestville, CA
1993
Recent Work, Union Gallery, San Jose State
University, San Jose, CA
1982
Michael Cooper, The Art Gallery of Western
Australia, Perth, Australia
1978
Michael Jean Cooper, Redding Museum,
Redding, CA
1977
Gun Series, Union Gallery, San Jose State
University, San Jose, CA
1977
Michael Jean Cooper, Central Oregon
Community College, Bend, Oregon
1976
Michael Jean Cooper, Boehm Gallery,
Palomar College, San Marcos, CA.
1969
Cooper Super Thing, Oregon College of
Education, Monmouth, Oregon
1968
Smoothies and Bumpies in Kinetic Sculpture,
Master Exhibition, San Jose State College
GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2007
American Craft, Various location
2006
Fire - Good, A Street Gallery,
Santa Rosa, CA
2005
Sculpture Sonoma
2005,
Santa Rosa Junior College Art Gallery, Santa Rosa, CA.
and Paradise Ridge Winery, Santa Rosa, CA.
2005
The Other Side, A Tradition of Alternatives,
San Diego State University, San Diego, CA.
2004
Faculty Show, California College of Art, San
Francisco, CA.
1999
Far Out: Bay Area Design, 1967 – 1973,
San Francisco Museum of Modern Art,
San Francisco, California
1998
American Woodworker Show,
Ontario, CA
1998
Woodfest, Southern Lumber Company,
San Jose, CA
1997
SOFA, Sculpture, Objects & Functional Art,
Chicago, Illinois
Forty-seventh Sacramento Autorama, Sacramento, CA
Forty-eighth Annual Grand National Roadster Show, Oakland, CA
Fresno Car Show, Fresno California
San Mateo Motorcycle Show, San Mateo, CA
1996
SOFA, Sculpture, Objects & Functional Art,
Chicago, Illinois
De Anza Faculty Show, Euphrat Gallery, Cupertino, CA
1995
Wood Sculpture: Craft and Symbolism, Ohio
Craft Museum, Columbus, Ohio
Wood Sculpture: Craft and Symbolism, 20 North Gallery, Toledo, Ohio
SOFA, Sculpture, Objects & Functional Art, Chicago, Illinois.
SOFA, Sculpture, Objects & Functional Art, Miami, Fl.
1994
Celebration of Our History & Future, Center
for Art & Technology, Presidio, San Francisco, CA.
De Anza Faculty Show, Euphrat Gallery, Cupertino, CA
1993
Motorcycles & Other Cycles, Redding
Museum, CA.
1992
Three Artists: New Works, San Francisco
Museum of Modern Art,
Rental Gallery, San Francisco, CA
1991
De Anza Faculty Show, Euphrat Gallery,
Cupertino, CA.
Group Show, William Zimmer Gallery, Mendocino, CA
1988
Portraits: An Extended Concept, CA
Museum of Art, Santa Rosa, CA
1987
Faculty Art Show, Haystack Mountain School
of Crafts, Deer Isle, Maine
1986
Fine Wood, Euphrat Gallery, De Anza
College, Cupertino, CA
Furniture in the Aluminum Vein, Kaiser Center Art Gallery, Oakland, CA
1986
Fantasy on Wheels, Bellevue Art Museum,
Bellevue, Washington
1985
Statements in Wood, California State
University at Northridge, CA
Three Woodworkers, Haggin Museum, Stockton, CA
Works in Wood, Monterey Peninsula Museum of Art, Monterey, CA
1984
Bentwood, Museum of Art, Rhode Island
School of Design, Providence, Rhode Island.
Wood Renditions, Gallery at the Plaza, Los Angeles, CA
1983
Wood Invitational, Gallery Fair, Mendocino, CA
1982
Faculty Art Show, Helen Euphrat Gallery,
De Anza College, Cupertino, CA
1980
Annual Exhibition, American Academy in Rome, Italy
1979
Royal Show, Melbourne, Australia
Recent Work on Tour, Queensland Museum, College of Advanced Education, Queensland State Art Gallery, and the Institute of Modern Art, all located in Queensland, Australia
Recent Work, Fremantle Art Gallery, Fremantle, Western Australia
Recent Work, Caulfield Art Center, Melbourne, Australia
Recent Work, Crafts Council of Australia Gallery, Sydney, Australia
1978
Second Artists' Soapbox Derby, San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, San Francisco, CA
Selections from the Second Artists' Soapbox Derby, Sonoma State Art Gallery, Rohnert Park, CA
San Francisco Second Artists' Soapbox Derby: South Bay Entrants, Wordworks Gallery, San Jose, CA
Fine Design, Cal Expo, California State Fair, Sacramento, CA
1977
SECA Award 1977, San Francisco Museum
of Modern Art, San Francisco, CA.
Kinetic Works, Nevada Art Gallery, Reno, Nevada
It's Electric, Euphrat Gallery, De Anza College, Cupertino, CA
Imaginings, The Allrich Gallery, San Francisco, CA
Contemporary Designs: Wood", Mount San Antonia College Gallery, Walnut, CA
1976
Slick, Merz Gallery, San Jose, CA
Art That Rolls and Flies, Euphrat Gallery, De Anza College, Cupertino, CA
California Design 76, Pacific Design Center, Los Angeles, CA
American Crafts 76, Chicago Museum of Contemporary Art, Chicago, Illinois
Selections from California Design 76, The Allrich Gallery, San Francisco, CA
1975
Artists Soapbox Derby, San Francisco, CA
Museum of Modern Art, San Francisco, CA
1974
Pubic Sculpture/Urban Environment, Oakland
Museum, Oakland, CA
1973
First International Motorcycle Art Show,
Phoenix Art Museum, Phoenix, Arizona
1971
First Contemporary International,
Jan Morehead Gallery, Chico, CA
Group Invitational, Union Gallery, San Jose State University, San Jose, CA
1970
The Highway, Philadelphia's Museum of
Modern Art, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
The Highway, Houston Museum of Art, Houston, Texas
1969
Electric Art, Phoenix Art Museum, Phoenix, Arizona
Electric Art, Dixon Art Center, University of California, Los Angeles, CA
Lodi Ninth Annual Art Show, Lodi, CA
Group Show, William Sawyer Gallery, San Francisco, CA
An American Report on the Sixties, The Denver Art Museum, Denver, Colorado
1969
Wheels, San Francisco Museum of Modern
Art, San Francisco, CA
Kinetics, Hayward Gallery, London, England
Kinetics, Esther Robles Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
Kinetic Sculpture, Arleigh Gallery, San Francisco, CA
1967 Lodi Seventh Annual Art Show, Lodi, CA
Sacramento Autorama, Sacramento, CA
Nineteenth Annual Grand National Roadster Show, Oakland, CA
1966 Annual Student Exhibition, San Jose State College, San Jose, CA
FILM DOCUMENTATION
1998
Working with Tubing, Covell Videos. Video documents various technical and esthetic elements of exhaust systems for the Tubester project. 6 minutes.
1982
Split Personality, Color 16mm film by
Western Australia Institute of Technology. Film documents full construction of the commissioned sculpture for the Art Gallery of Western Australia; 10 minutes.
1979
Craftsman in Industry, Color 16mm film by
Stephen Jodrell for the Crafts Council of Australia. Film documents studio activities of Michael Jean Cooper, Craftsman Fellow, in an industrial situation; 10 minutes.
1978
Michael Jean Cooper: Sculpture, Color 16mm
film by Robert Burrill, Milpitas, California, 30 minutes. Film documents large kinetic sculpture with hydraulic, pneumatic and electric power systems as well as more recent work in laminated wood. Manta Matic, color video film by Dede Bartels, Atherton, California, 12 minutes. Film documents the construction of nitrogen-powered pneumatic coasting car plus some of the event of Second Artists' Soapbox Derby.
1977
The First Artists' Soapbox Derby, color 16mm
by Amanda Pope, San Francisco, California, 20 minutes. Film documents the event plus studio shots and commentary of various Bay Area artists.
1977
Turbo, black and white video film by Robert
Reynolds for San Jose State University, California, 22 minutes. Film documents the construction of and studio activities surrounding Turbo, a full-size laminated hardwood motorcycle. Commentary by Michael Cooper.
1975
Tubesteak City, color 16mm film by Stuart
Roe, Los Angeles, California, 25 minutes. The film documents special projects in art class construction, engineering and installation. Instructor - Michael Jean Cooper.
PUBLICATIONS
2000
Setting Up Shop, by Sandor Nagyszalancy,
Taunton Press.
1998-1999
Street Rodder, “The Tubester”, build-up
articles. Beginning in November 1998 continuing through summer of 1999, seventeen monthly articles.
1998
Art Connections, Second Edition,
Heinemann, Port Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
Woodwork Magazine, feature article, February 1998.
Woodworker West Magazine, cover and feature article, September-October 1998.
1997
SOFA Catalog, page 232.
Street Machine, April-May 1997, page 130. Sydney, NSW, Australia.
City Bike, March 1997, page 4, San Francisco, CA.
Thunder Press, Harley Davidson & Buell Motorcycle News, June 1997, page 6, Scotts Valley, CA
Drive, April 1977, page 19, Concord, CA
47th Sacramento Autorama Catalog, Sacramento, CA
48th Annual Grand National Roadster Show Catalog, Oakland, CA.
1996
Street Rodder, ”Headers on Steroids”, Feb.
1996, Vol. 25.
1995
Ohio Show Review, The Columbus Dispatch
Visual Arts.
1991
Art Connections, First Edition, Heinemann,
Port Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
1984
Bentwood, Museum of Art, Rhode Island
School of Design, Providence, Rhode Island.
1981
Woodworking, The New Wave by Dona
Meilach, Crown Publishing.
1980
Masters of Wood Sculpture by Nicholas
Roukes, Watson-Guptill Publishing.
1979
Artbook, Vol. 5, No. 8, cover photo and
article, Perth, Australia.
Craft Australia, Crafts Council of Australia, summer, cover photo and article, Sydney, Australia.
1978
The Gun Series, catalog, San Jose State
University, CA.
1977
SECA Award 1977, San Francisco Museum
of Modern Art, San Francisco, CA
Fine Woodworking, “Out West” by John Kelsey, Fall, Vol. 2, No. 2.
Craftsman Lifestyle - The Gentle Revolution; California Design, Pasadena, CA
1976
Home Magazine; Los Angeles Times, Los
Angeles, California. Cover photo and inside article on California Design 76.
1974
Public Sculpture/Urban Environment,
Oakland Art Museum, CA
COLLECTIONS
Gunrunner:
Dick & Cindy Long, Napa, CA
Woody:
Mr. & Mrs. Thomas Toldrian, CA
Jane’s Chair:
Jane Miller & Mike Holler, Aptos, CA
Gunshy:
Mr. Joseph Nicolai, Pacific Harley-Davidson Dealership, Honolulu, Hawaii
Society's Child:
Mr. and Mrs. John Pashilk, Sebastopol, CA
Trainer Tricycle V:
Mr. Robert Strini, Charlottesville, Virginia
Trainer Tricycle IV:
Mr. Joseph Hiura, Venice, CA
Trainer Tricycle III:
Mr. Dennis Varney, Los Gatos, CA
Trainer Tricycle II:
Mr. Budd Muzinich, San Carlos, CA
Female Nude:
Mr. Sam Maloof, Rancho Cucamonga, CA
Anne II:
Dr. Ted Eger II, San Francisco, CA
Anne I:
Owner unknown
Gayle with Towel:
Mr. & Mrs. Kunz, Berlin, Germany
Double Dicker:
Mr. and Mrs. Nicklaus Wirtz, Crumberg, CA
Split Personality:
Art Gallery of Western Australia, Perth, Australia
Magnetic Roller No. 3:
Mr. Ron Covell, Soquel, CA
Overarmed Wheelchair:
Dr. Ryerson, Modesto, CA
Turbo:
Mr. Joseph Nicolai, Pacific Harley-Davidson Dealership, Honolulu, Hawaii
Gun in Curved Perspective II:
Mr. Thomas Wotton, Los Altos, CA
Gun in Curved Perspective I:
Mr. Walter Wilson, San Carlos, CA
Loaded with Extras:
Mr. and Mrs. Anthony Garcia, Atherton, CA
Sweep:
Darwin College of Advanced Education, Darwin, Australia
Dunlop:
Queen Victoria Museum, Launceston, Tasmania, Australia
Manta Matic:
Queensland State Art Gallery, Brisbane, Australia
Fetish:
Ms. Ann Harithus, Houston, Texas
Dullores:
Dr. and Mrs. Edward Cahn, Los Gatos, CA
Alla Romana:
Student Union, San Jose State University, CA
Tricycle:
Mr. and Mrs. Ian MacLeod, Mill Valley, CA
Untitled:
Mr. Charles Henry, San Diego, CA
Untitled:
Mr. Chris Cross, Los Gatos, CA
Untitled:
Ms. Carolyn Westphal, San Jose, CA
Tex:
Dr. Barry Ramer, San Francisco, CA
Gun in Greater Perspective:
Mr. and Mrs. John Pashilk, Sebastopol, CA
Gun in Proper Perspective:
Dr. and Mrs. Edward Cahn, Los Gatos, CA
Boy Scout Special:
Mr. and Mrs. John Holmes, Rohnert Park, CA
Armed Chair:
Mr. and Mrs. David Hatch, Rough & Ready, CA
Captain's Chair:
Mr. A.R. Morse, Reynolds-Morse Foundation, Cleveland, Ohio
Soapbox Racer:
Mr. Richard Wickstrom, Mill Valley, CA
Trainer Tricycle (Maple):
Ms. Donna Hoffman, Berkeley, CA
Ceiling Flapper:
Ms. Jacqueline Thurston, Berkeley, CA
Scrap Trainer:
Carol George, Los Altos Hills, CA
Magnetic 'V' Roller:
Mr. Robert Strini, Charlottesville, Virginia
Untitled:
Robert and Esther Robles, Los Angeles, CA
Double Magnetic Roller:
Metro Media Collection, Los Angeles, California
Double Magnetic Roller:
Objects U.S.A., Collection of Contemporary American Objects, (Color) The Johnson Wax Collection, New York.
Timed Capsule:
Mr. R. Lee Carlson, Belvedere, CA
Magnetic Roller No. 3:
Dr. Richard Kilham, Capitola, CA
Moon Roller:
Mr. Robert Pritiken, Dailey and Associates,San Francisco, CA
Flipper w/ 180° Bends:
Oakland Museum, CA
LECTURES
2007
Santa Rosa Junior College, Santa Rosa, CA
2005
California College of Arts, San Francisco, CA
1999
Hawaii Craftsmen, University of Hawaii, Honolulu,
Hawaii.
1998
San Jose State University, Advanced Sculpture class,
San Jose, CA
Furniture Society Conference, Panel & Artist Presentation, Furniture 98, “Visions Beyond the Horizon”, Oakland Museum, Oakland, and CCAC @ San Francisco, CA
1997
SOFA, Sculpture, Objects & Functional Art, “Is Craft
Possible in Fine Art?”, Chicago, Illinois
1996
Sonoma County Woodworkers' Association, Santa
Rosa, CA
1995
College of Marin, Kentfield, CA.
Industrial Design Program, San Jose State University, CA
1994
Sonoma County Woodworkers' Association, Santa
Rosa, CA
1993
Union Gallery, San Jose State University, CA
1992
Arizona State University at Tempe, Arizona
1988
Arizona State University at Tempe, Arizona
1982
College of Art, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia
Western Australia Institute of Technology, Perth, Australia Sonoma State University, Rohnert Park, CA
1980
Tyler School of Art, Rome, Italy
American Academy in Rome, Italy, Rome
Parnham House, The John Makepeace School for Craftsmen in Wood, Dorset, England
1979
Virginia Commonwealth University, Virginia
Arizona State University, Arizona
Crafts Council of Australia National Conference, Canberra, Australia
Queensland Woodcrafts Guild, Brisbane, Australia
Canberra School of Art, Australia
Crafts Council of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
College of Art/Seven Hills, Brisbane, Australia
Brisbane Sculptors' Society, Australia
University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
Kelvin Grove College of Advanced Education, Australia
Queensland Museum, Australia
Institute of Modern Art, Brisbane, Australia
Queensland Institute of Technology, Australia
Australian Society for Education through the Arts, Brisbane
Darwin College of Advanced Education, Australia
Western Australia Crafts Council, Perth, Australia
Clairmont Technical College, Perth, Australia
Lederville Technical College, Perth, Australia
Industrial Design Institute, Perth, Australia
Western Australia Institute of Technology, Perth, Australia
Nedlands College of Advanced Education, Perth, Australia
Perth Technical College, Perth, Australia
Clairmont Technical College, Perth, Australia
National Wood Conference, Melbourne, Australia
Adelaide College of Arts and Education, Australia
Tasmania College of Advanced Education, Hobart & Launceston, Australia
Craft Council of Canberra, Australia
Goulburn College of Advanced Education, Australia
Riverina College of Advanced Education, Australia
University of New South Wales, Australia
1978
Redding Museum, CA
Sonoma State College, CA
Central Oregon Community College
University of Calgary, Canada
University of Oregon,
Alberta College of Art, Canada
University of Montana, Missoula
University of Wisconsin, Madison
Sheridan School of Design, Canada
Rochester Institute of Technology, School of American Craftsmen, N.Y.
Boston University, Program in Artisanry, Massachusetts
1977
Jose State University, CA
University of California, Santa Cruz
West Valley College, Saratoga, CA
San Diego State University, CA
1976
San Jose State University, CA
West Valley College, Saratoga, CA
Palomar College, CA
1975
University of California, Santa Cruz
West Valley College, Saratoga, CA.
San Jose State University, CA
1974
San Jose State University, CA
1973
University of Kentucky
San Jose State University, CA
1970
San Jose State University, CA
1967
Oregon College of Education
WORKSHOPS
2008
Penland School of Crafts, Penland, North Carolina
1999 Hawaii Craftsmen, University of Hawaii, Honolulu, Hawaii
1987
Haystack Mountain School of Crafts, Deer Isle, Maine
Oregon School of Arts & Crafts, Portland, Oregon
1985
University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona
1984
Sonoma State University, Rohnert Park, CA
1982 Parnham House, The John Makepeace School for
Craftsmen in Wood, Dorset, England
1978
Arizona State University at Tempe, Arizona
Kelvin Grove C.A.E., Brisbane, Australia
Darwin C.A.E., Northern Territories, Australia
Pinewood Studios, Fremantle, Western Australia
Melbourne State College, Melbourne, Australia
Preston C.A.E., Melbourne, Australia
Parks Community Center, Adelaide, Australia
School of Art, Tasmania C.A.E., Hobart, Australia
Tasmania C.A.E., Launceston, Australia
Crafts Council of Australia, Leon Sadubin Studio, Sydney, Australia
1977
California State College at Northridge, CA
San Diego State University, San Diego, CA.
1973
University of Kentucky, KY.
RELATED PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES
2005
Jury Member, Artistry in Wood, Sonoma County
Woodworkers’ Association, Santa Rosa ,C.
1998
Jury Member, Artistry in Wood, Sonoma County
Woodworkers’ Association, Santa Rosa, CA
1995
Jury Member, Artistry in Wood, Sonoma County
Woodworkers’ Association, Santa Rosa,CA
1992
Jury Member, Artistry in Wood, Sonoma County
Woodworkers’ Association, Santa Rosa, CA
1994-2004 Committee Member, Art on Campus, DeAnza College,
Cupertino, CA
This committee raised funds through community outreach for art purchases for DeAnza College. The committee also reviewed and rendered opinions regarding all proposals for art purchases for the campus.
1995-2004 Student Advisor, Student Sculpture on Campus,
DeAnza College, Cupertino, CA. DeAnza College proposes to encourage, support and display student designed outdoor sculpture on campus by providing students with a process integrated into their regular curriculum. As Student Advisor, Michael assisted students in submitting their proposals and the execution and placement on campus of accepted work.