Igraduated with my MA degree in Art History from Texas Woman's University in the spring of 2013. Ifinished my MFA in painting at Texas Woman's University in December 2013. My final exhibition was held at the Visual Arts Building the first week in December. This was followed by a solo exhibition in Grapevine at the Tower Gallery. 

My work's main purpose is to remind people that we are all human with every kind of need and emotion. An awareness of other cultures provides an insight into our own, and shows that the culture surrounding us is not the only valid one. This understanding of our similarities and tolerance for our differences can only promote a more peaceful, harmonious and enlightened world. My choice is to highlight, recognize and appreciate the variety of our world through my art. Within the series of work, there is anexploration ofthe basic human constructs of good vs. evil, life vs. death, love vs. hate, andnature vs. progress which are read, seen and heard everywhere in books, music, cinema and art. 

                   As a life-long educator seekingto inform and deepen understanding, but in a playful way, the work is complex and multi-layered with hidden symbols and overlapping patterns, which hide a secret story, or messageHowever serious the subjects- which might range from intolerance, climate change, environmental degradation, ignorance, and bigotry-the work is colorful, complicated, puzzling and enticing.  The artwork reflects the struggles, pain, challenges, joy and adventures of life and show that it is colorful, wonderful, confusing and full of promise and surprises everywhere we look.

                   The predominant element of my work is the dot or circle, referring to the eternal, and used as decoration in many religions and cultures around the world.  I find that when working with the dots and other patterns I fall into a relaxed state, almost like Zen meditation.  There is a fascination with how many ways I can make the dots, and what different affects I can create.  The dots have grown to become netting or have become the circular stitches of knitting and crochet.  The exploration of textiles resonates with my childhood and my family's traditions and continue to have value and meaning for me today.  By exploring the symbolism of antiquity, and multicultural and pop signifiers, the artwork can merge the past, present and by implication, the future.

          Lately the work has more personal symbolism with certain shapes and patterns repeating unconsciously from piece to piece, forcing a consideration of what is important to me, and to continue by consciously including these personal elements in some way, such as the book shape and the spiral.  I become lost in the tangled webs I have woven, snared in areas of dense texture, and when I step away from a work, I cannot believe how intricate and mesmerizing the piece has become.  When it all comes together, it is like walking in a complex dream world, meeting different thoughts, ideas and places along a convoluted route which reflectslife's continuing spiral.

Gail Williamson Cope

gailcope1@gmail.com

www.gailcopearts.com

Gail Williamson Cope

3140 Brookhollow Drive

Farmers Branch, Tx. 75234

972-484-2673

gailcope1@gmail.com

www.gailcopefineart.com

Biography:  Born, Memphis, Tennessee USA

Education

• 2013 MFA at Texas Woman's University Denton, Texas

• 2013 MA in Art History Texas Woman’s University Denton, Texas

• 2001-2005 Art Classes Brookhaven School of Arts,  Dallas County Community           CollegesFarmers Branch, Texas

• 1976M.A. German, University of Texas at Arlington

• 1968B.A. French and German, Peabody College of Vanderbilt University Nashville, Tennessee     

Solo Exhibitions

• Simply Complex Gough Gallery Caley/Patterson Center Denton,Tx. May-June, 2015

• Tower Gallery Grapevine, Tx. January 2014

• New Works Barnes and Noble Books, Denton, Tx. August-September, 2014

• New Works Raymond Stark Salon Addison Tx. June-September 2013

• New Works Barnes and Noble Books, Denton, Tx. December, 2012-January, 2013

• New Works  Raymond Stark Salon Addison, Tx. May-September 2012

• Reuse, Recycle, Remember  010 Gallery TWU Student Center, March 2012

·        New Works  Raymond Stark Salon Addison, Tx. May-September, 2011

·        New Works  Raymond Stark Salon Addison, Tx. March, 2010

·        New Works  Jupiter House, Denton,Tx. April-May, 2010

·        Senior Recess  010 Show at Texas Woman's University StudentUnion Gallery- January , 2009

• Pushing the Envelope  Texas Woman's University Administration Building Denton,Tx. January, 2008

Juried Group Exhibitions

• VAST 125 Mile Exhibition January, 2016

• VAST Calendar and Show, Chestnut Tree December,2015

• VAST Members Show, July 2015

• VAST Calendar and Show, Chestnut Tree December,2014

• VAST Members Show, July 2014: Best of Show Award

• Merging Visions Exhibition Greater Denton Arts Center, Denton, Tx. April-May,2014

• 500 X 2013 College Expo October 2013

• VAST National ShowDenton, Texas April-May, 2013 (Juror: James Pace)

• Voertman Show at TWU April, 2013

• Merging Visions Exhibition Denton, Texas April-May 2013

• VAST Calendar Showchosen June 2012 andexhibition in December 2012

( Juror Ana Lopez)

• VAST Members Show June 2012, prizewinner

• NYLO Southside Hotel March, 2012

• Voertman Show at TWU April, 2012

• Merging Visions Denton South Branch Library, May, 2012

• Goddard Center Show in Ardmore, Ok.   March, 2011

• Voertman Show at TWU April, 2011

• Alliance Show at TWU, November, 2011

• VAST Calendar Show at Chestnut TreeDenton, Tx. November-January       2011-2012

• Alliance Show at Texas Woman's University Denton, Tx.  November, 2011

• Vast Calendar Show at Chestnut TreeDenton, Tx. January, 2010

• Voertman Show at Texas Woman's University Denton, Tx. March, 2010

• Alliance Show at Texas Woman's University Denton, Tx. November 2010

• Voertman Show at Texas Woman's University Denton, Tx. March, 2009

• Young at ‘Art Group show at Raymond Stark Salon Addison, Tx. March-May, 2009

• Fresh PaintTWU Group Show Texas Woman's University Denton, Tx.  May,2009

• Goddard Center Show in Ardmore, Ok. June, 2009

• Alliance Show at Texas Woman's University Denton, Tx. November 2009

• Selected for the Visual Arts Society of Texas Calendar for 2010

• Voertman Show at Texas Woman's UniversityDenton, Tx.  April, 2008

• Texas Visual Arts Alliance Membership Show Medical City Dallas, Tx. May, 2008

• Alliance Show at Texas Woman's University October, 2008

• Alliance Show at Texas Woman's University Denton, Tx.  November, 2007

• Texas Visual Arts Alliance Show Plaza of the Americas Gallery Dallas, Tx. November, 2007

• Texas Visual Arts Alliance Membership Show Medical City Dallas, Tx. December, 2006

• Texas Visual Arts Alliance Membership Show December, 2005

Group Exhibitions

• Young at ‘Art Group show at Raymond Stark Salon Addison, Tx. March-May, 2009

• Fresh PaintTWU Group Show Texas Woman's University Denton, Tx.  May,2009

• Young At ‘Art Group Show at Raymond  Stark Salon  Addison, Tx. April-May, 2008

• Young at ‘Art Group Show at Raymond Stark SalonAddison, Tx. March,2007

• Young at ‘Art Group Show at 2600 Gallery Dallas, Tx.  May, 2007

• Young at ‘Art Group Show at Dallas Public Library Dallas, Tx. July, 2007

• Young at ‘Art Group Show Raymond Stark Salon,  Addison, Tx.  March, 2006

• Young at ‘Art Group Show Manske Library  Farmers  Branch, Tx.  June 2006

• Young at ‘Art Group Show Eisemann Center, Richardson, TexasSeptember, 2006

• Young at ‘Art Group Show JanetteKennedy Gallery at Southside on LamarDallas, Tx. October, 2006

• Young at ‘Art Group Show Thompson Gallery for V.A.C.D. Dallas, Texas November, 2006

• Young at ‘Art Group Show JanetteKennedy Gallery at Southside on LamarDallas, Tx. October, 2005

• Young at ‘Art,” Group Show at Kathleen’s Art Café,  Dallas, Tx. and Plano, Tx. locationsNovember 2005-December, 2005

• Young at ‘Art Group Show Raymond Stark Salon,  Addison, Tx.  October, 2004

Honors and Publications

·         Merging Visions 20134: poetry and paintings

·         Merging Visions 2013: poetry and paintings

·         Gerhard Richter’s Paintings of Terrorists: The Artist Confronts History, Thesis May 2013

·         Merging Visions 2012: poetry and paintings

·         Graduate Lecturer at the Modern in Ft. WorthSeptember-December, 2008

·         Dallas Morning News January 18, 2007 Courtney Flatt From art Forms, a group forms                               

Gallery  Bamboo Gallery in Providenciales, Turks and Caicos                                     

CollectionsPrivate Collections

Texas Woman’s University Collection

                              Nylo Hotel Collections

                              Dallas Medical Collections