Featured Artist:
K. Daphnae Koop
Artist Statement
I am a painter whose inspiration lies in the materials I work with: repurposed wood that carries the dirt and scars of its history, along with recycled shattered glass that brings along its own story.
I piece together, carve and then paint my panels, guided by the carved textures or the paint I have already laid on the surface. My interest in used or abused materials is central to my work. It is an expression both of the life and beauty that exists in the ordinary, and of notions of reclamation and rebirth. The carved texture combined with the rich colors of my paints and the sparkle of shattered glass transforms the destruction and decay in my materials into beauty and triumph.
Artist Bio
Growing up in Minnesota, her grandmother taught her quilting, and her grandfather taught her building and woodworking. A childhood spent wandering Minnesota’s country roads and woods instilled in her a deep love of the land, and her connection to Minnesota’s lakes and rivers offered insight into the flow that embraces all things.
Koop has a particular love of Medieval gilded manuscripts, alchemical formulae, reliquaries and objects of devotion and inspiration. These objects are an attempt to render the invisible visible, which is also the deep motivation behind all of her work. Her work combines objects and techniques not traditionally used together, and honors the beauty underlying the basest of materials.
Koop studied art and literature, earning a BFA from the Minneapolis College of Art and Design. Her work has been shown in New York, New England and throughout the Midwest, and is included in both private and public collections.
Why Does Cross Have An Art Gallery?
That’s a very good question, and as it happens, there are a lot of reasons. The most basic is that the God of truth is also the God of beauty, all glorious (Psalm 50:2). Finding ways to celebrate his attributes is a part of our worship. Another reason is that human beings are made in his image, and so are creative (Genesis 1:26-28; Exodus 31:1-6), a part of personhood we must honor. Also, historically, the Church was a primary patron of the arts but gave up that role under the influence of modernity and consumerism. It’s time to recover the Church’s part in that world.
Good art requires us to slow down and look, to ask questions and wait, to observe and enter into the perspective of another person, the artist. In our fast-paced, efficient society, such moments can occasionally be transcendent when we realize that even the ordinary is actually quite extraordinary. We may catch a glimpse of something beyond the canvas, a reminder that there is far more to life than meets the eye. And it is often in moments of stillness where we meet God.
We may share the perspective of the artist or share only part, and that opens the door to understanding and healthy communication. This is why the Gallery at Cross invites artists, regardless of their faith or lack of faith to show their work. In comprehending their work over a period of time, we better comprehend our neighbors. Such conversations today are often angry and marked by incivility. What better place to have them than in a community that is called to compassion, gentleness, and kindness? Interacting about good art is not only a chance to grow in appreciating beauty and creativity, but also about growing in humility.
Good art might make a space beautiful, but the purpose of art is not decoration. There are some ugly stories of wickedness in Scripture, but even they serve the story of redemption. The first question is not whether I like a piece of art, but what this art invites me to consider.
There is a place for sacred art—the stained-glass window behind the altar at Church of the Cross is a good example. Art in the Gallery at Cross is not sacred art, but good art, not narrowly “religious” because we believe Jesus Christ is Lord of all of life, reality, and culture.
The Gallery at Cross is not just for people who like or understand art. It’s for all God’s people to share in honoring God as God all-glorious, and human beings as creative, made in God’s image. And the Openings sponsored by the Gallery are a chance to meet together in a safe place to fellowship, learn, ask questions, wonder, and be still for a while in the midst of our busyness.
What if you have questions or object to some art in the Gallery at Cross?
The Gallery Team carefully considers each artist, and each work that is exhibited in the Gallery. The Team has no desire to provoke discomfort over what is shown. Still, good art is often provocative, because it explores and illumines the nature of things, stimulating reflection and discussion. Because we are different people, with different backgrounds and experiences, different works of art can strike us in very different ways.
If you object, for whatever reason, to art that is hung in the Gallery, please follow the process outlined below, rather than calling the Church Office, since they aren’t the ones working closely with the artists and the Gallery.
Our process:
Spend a few minutes in the Gallery with the piece and reflect on the ways different people might see it. What questions come to mind as you view it?
Attend the Opening to hear the artist explain their work, and creative process. Ask your questions of them.
If you still have objections, make an appointment with the Gallery Team Chair (Denis Haack, denishaack@gmail.com) to discuss your concerns. He’ll be happy to meet with you at your convenience.
If after this conversation you still have concerns, please feel free to send them to the Rector and/or Vestry. (Email addresses on the back of each week’s bulletin).
Thank you. Our desire is for the Gallery to be an edifying experience at Cross. Good art celebrates creativity from being made in God’s image and thus brings glory to God. And good art makes us listen to how others see things, consider other perspectives, and reflect on how we see things and why.