Remembering Kathy Koop

She worked hard. She taught hard. And she played hard. The world was always "A+" to Kathy Koop and she lived it that way. Met her at Indiana University. Both graduate students there in the 1960s. In 1973 on the advice of mutual artist/friend, George Hildrew, recommended that she be hired for a sabbatical replacement at Westminster College. (I had been hired there the year before.) She stayed on as an adjunct. Years later, after the full-time art faculty had gone in other directions --Nels Oestreich, Robert Hild, myself-- Kathy found herself fully employed, became department head, a tenured professor, the college's gallerist. She stayed a tad less than four decades. She spoke about all of this with great irony and bemusement. Watched her rise to the top of her game as an innovative and highly respected ceramicist and watched her develop for Westminster College one of the top ceramic programs to be had anywhere. It was way better than just good. She pooh-poohed the former and grinned at the latter. Proud. Kathy was both opinionated and fun. (What a great combination.) Once, in a heated discussion with a good friend, the metalsmith Dan Jocz, watched her grab a bag of ice that was keeping some freshly caught trout cool and, trying to smack him with it, wound up hitting her own noggin. Just about knocked herself out. Then woozily jumped up and laughed about it. Gave Dan a hug. Became a story, for sure. That was in North Carolina in the late 1980s where I had landed as art department head at a mid-sized university. Brought Kathy in as a visiting scholar and, for a number of summers, as a member of my shadow faculty-- the ones who energized and challenged students (and danced circles around the dead wood). Her exhibition there was an eye-opener. Saw her last July in Hudson, New York, where I now reside. We attended the opening of a new space, EB Fine Art Curatorium, where Kathy has work in the permanent collection. We hung out and told each other stories into the night. Always ending with a grin and with Kathy saying, "now that was an A+ one." We talked a few days before her death. The grin prevails.

The Kathy Koop Retrospectacular was over the top, brilliant, excellent. That is the person she was. Her works spun out a genius sparked from a savant mind that has wowed friends, artists, collectors, and those she worked with around the world (and the boys in Japan thought women couldn't handle the heat!).
I am certainly enriched by all we shared over the many years and her works enhance my life and home.
So, there will always be some Kathy in my life: times shared, beautiful pieces I can call my own; her voice and wit, intellect and humor, still fresh in my mind... ah, 'twas only days ago we talked and talked. I feel you are still here; but no, you are onto other places. Good-by, good-by... may your adventures continue...