From staff reports
“Blooms, Birds and Butterflies” is Beaufort Art Association’s next featured artist exhibit, featuring the mosaic glass of Sharon Cooper and runs from Tuesday, April 29 through Saturday, June 28 at the Beaufort Art Association Gallery.
The exhibit is dedicated to that wonderful time in the Lowcountry when nature comes to life. Colorful blooms tip their heads to the sun, while magical butterflies float above the gardens. The marsh comes alive and sheds the brown pallete of winter for the lush green grasses, while majestic herons and egrets are enjoying their new habitats.
Butterflies have long been a symbol of hope and transformation, and a concept Cooper can relate to with art inspiring a second career in her life. Who can resist the intricate delicate patterns of color and translucent appearance of the wings? They are perfect subject for the medium of colorful Mosaic Glass.
“The quiet solitude of the marsh birds allows me the same quiet reflections while I am working in my studio. It gives me great pleasure to create images in glass that will endure for future generations to enjoy,” Cooper said in a media release. “The infinite variety of flower blooms is only surpassed by the colors and reflective quality of stained glass. Flowers and their blooms allow me, as an artist, to create my own fantasy from abundant bouquets to the simplistic beauty of a single bloom.”
All of Cooper’s work is derived from hand-cut individual pieces of glass applied in a Mosaic fashion. Using diverse types of stained glass, sea glass, and glass beads she is able to achieve the desired effects of color and light refraction.
Self expression comes in many forms. Cooper has enjoyed creating in the Art of Mosaic Glass over the past five years. Several classes with National Mosaic Artists and exploring different techniques on her own have resulted in the development of a unique style of Mosaic Glass. Experimentation allows for an ever changing perspective and facilitates growth.
Cooper’s background in the field of Nursing required patience, focus and dedication to the profession. This allowed little time to pursue any artistic interests. After retirement, Cooper was able to use the same attributes to create a second career in her passion for Mosaic Glass Art.
The Lowcountry provides an infinite variety of stimuli for an artist to capture images of floral, fauna and wildlife. Several years ago, along with her husband Mark, they built a new home and incorporated a studio to pursue her craft.
Cooper is currently Executive Vice President of Beaufort Art Association, which has given her a broader appreciation for all mediums of art. In addition to the Beaufort Art Association, Sharon has also exhibited her work at The Art League of Hilton Head, The Society of Bluffton Artists and The Habersham Artist Group.
Her exhibit at Beaufort Art Association entitled “Blooms, Birds & Butterflies” captures her love of nature, with an emphasis on the arrival of Spring and Summer in the Lowcountry. It opens on Tuesday, April 29 and runs through Saturday, June 28. The public is invited to the opening reception on (First) Friday, May 2, 2025 from 5 to 8 p.m.
