|
Welcome to COCOA!
The Colorado Coalition of Artists is a non-profit artist cooperative. CoCOA was started by artists and is self sustained by the members who volunteer and participate. CoCOA unifies artists in the community and provides a common meeting ground where artistic products are worked on, displayed and sold. This cooperative encourages an enriching and creative environment for artistic expression and dialogue for artists and the community.
CoCOA Offers:
• Painting Classes
• Drawing Classes
• Non-Instructed Figure Sessions
• Free Portrait Session
• Gallery Space
• Art Workshops
• Exhibition Opportunities
CoCOA Member Art Events
CoCOA member show Ongoing at The Lyric Cinema Cafe
300 E. Mountain Avenue Bas Bleu Theatre Company
401 Pine
The Local Emerging Artists Show at Gallery 101 at Fort Collins Museum of Contemporary Art 201 S. College Ave CoCOA Member, Laura Brent is included in this show with several other emergent Artists. Show Runs Through March 7th. 
"The 2 Woman Art Show" A benefit Art Show for Crossroads Safehouse Featuring Artwork by Heather Burger, a CoCOA member and Coco Russell Feb 1- March 3rd
At The Roundhouse Art Gallery 116 N. College Ave #3 
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
Look for us at our new location in the
Poudre River Arts Center at 402 North College Avenue
Upcoming shows:
March
Frank Stanley
Bring your Own Moustache
CoCOA Gallery Presents "Motors, Mustaches and Masterpieces" a show by Frank Stanley, a local artist.
The show will continue through March 29, 2008
A Message from the Director
If you are thinking of getting involved, or want to learn more, please contact us at 221-3019, or email info@cocoaart.com. As CoCOA grows, new opportunities for interactions occur, unifying artists in the community, and boosting creativity and thought. Together we can make it great! Enjoy.
.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Houdon and Voltaire
January 15, 2008
I'm laptopping you from beside a life-sized bust of Voltaire by
Houdon. It's in the Los Angeles County Museum of Art.
Variations of the piece exist in other places around the world,
so seeing it again is like meeting up with an old friend.
Jean-Antoine Houdon (1741-1828) was well known for his
plasters, marbles and bronzes of the titled and talented. When
the popular philosopher of the 18th Century Enlightenment was
84, Houdon managed to get him in for one last sitting. Voltaire
soon after died, and Houdon produced this masterwork.
Voltaire, half smiling, appears to be looking at his
thoughts--perhaps at the tragicomic failings and follies of
humanity. His eyes twinkle with wisdom, wit and intelligent
doubt. The upper lids are sliced with mannerist lashes, giving
the eyes a disarmingly real, almost wet, look. His toothless
mouth appears about to speak. He was, after all, the man who
said:
* The secret of being a bore is to tell everything.
* The secret of the arts is to correct nature.
* Man is free at the moment he wishes to be.
* The happiest of all lives is a busy solitude.
* Originality is nothing but judicious imitation.
* Judge a man by his questions rather than by his answers.
* Work saves us from three great evils: boredom, vice and need.
As for Houdon, he too was a man of simplicity, high spirits and
openness of mind. A witty conversationalist and raconteur,
he'd go anywhere at any time for a mask of life or death.
He knew everyone--princes, dukes, kings, queens,
philosophers, composers, authors, architects, popes
and painters. He even knew the gods, goddesses and saints,
and found time to sculpt Jefferson, Washington and Franklin.
The last time I saw this Voltaire, he was all in gold in the
Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam. I always see simplicity and
directness. Houdon was an "easy worker," light on his feet and
casual with his tools. Life affirmation and spontaneity were
his religion. A statue of St. Bruno caused Clement XIV to make
the well-known remark, "He would even speak, did not the Rule
of his Order compel silence."
|
|
|
|
|
|