"Two Friends from L.A."
Jacqueline Koopen & Robert Kirk July 2 - 30, 2007 - Fresno City Hall, First Floor

Art Hop Reception:
July 5 - 5:00-8:00 PM
(Relaxed parking on either side of City Hall).

Two Artists from Los Angeles, exhibiting together for the first time, are coming to Fresno. One is a traditional oil painter and the other, a little less conventional, uses acrylic on plexi. Both have a style all their own, but are bound together by their shared interest in painting.

Jacqueline Koopen:

I was delivered by my grandmother in their house on Cedarstraat, in Ymuiden, Holland. Although, I moved to California at a young age, we traveled frequently to
Europe to visit family. I was inspired by the beautiful architecture, the museums, as well as the creativity of my mother and grandmother. They taught me that art is a boundless endeavor that allows oneself to explore personal style and to not be afraid to be true to one's expression.

I started working with Plexiglas as a medium while preparing for a final project at the UCLA Art Gallery. The gel medium that I use creates on the surface a 3-dimensional outline representing the physical. The color, which is painted on the reverse of the plexi creates a spiritual relationship, while reflecting it own personality. The paint doesn't always stay within the lines much like poetry, which doesn't necessarily have to rhyme.

The subject matter is drawn from my asssociation with the fashion industry and my life in Los Angeles. The work is created to be shared with the public in the hope that it may illicit a response and connect with them in a positive way.

ROBERT KIRK:

I knew early on I was going to be an artist because it was the only thing I really excelled at in school. I graduated from Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa with B.F.A. Degree in Art in1971. Then a 2 year tour-of-duty in Europe visiting the Tate, the Louvre, the Ufitzi, etc. where I discovered portraiture was what I found most exciting. I returned to the U.S. and Drake and completed another B.F.A. in Design in 1976.

After a decade of mostly watercolor painting in San Francisco I moved to Los Angeles in 1988 when I decided to start painting on canvas. After a trip to Morocco I sold a watercolor of a cow in a field of poppies to Mrs. Johnny Carson. Then I was asked to paint some dog portraits by several celebrities in Hollywood. Word of mouth
got around and I was off. Recently, I have started painting more human portraits which really pleases me. Consequently, two of my most two favorite artists are George Stubbs and David Hockney.

Location: Fresno City Hall, 2600 Fresno Street, Fresno
Starts: 2007 Jul 2 - 5:00pm
Ends: 2007 Jul 30 - 5:00pm