This website showcases the work of artist Martha Cooper, a multi-disciplinary artist , teacher and musician. Tucked in the heart of East City in Peterborough, Martha’s workspace is dedicated to the creation and teaching of folk arts. Her three areas of focus are quilting, music making/teaching and dance calling. Growing up with rich traditions of music and dance, Martha Cooper is a comprehensive source of knowledge in the folk arts. From her father came the gift of calling square dances and from her parents and sister came the love of playing tunes. It is not surprising that with generations of quilters in the family, Martha also grew up immersed in fabric and textile arts.
Martha Cooper is a second generation dance caller currently living in Peterborough ON. She first started calling with her father Eldon Cooper, and upon moving to Ottawa she fell in with the likes of Catherine Burns and Pippa Hall. Now more than 15 years later, Martha has called dances in Ottawa, Toronto, Kingston, Montreal, Vancouver, Seattle, Syracuse and more. She calls community dances, workshops in schools, weddings and parties. Most recent additions to her bio are the Algoma Trad Family Music and Dance Camp, Blue Skies Music Festival, and the Woods Music and Dance Camp.
Martha can put together an evening of dances suitable for any level of dancer from beginner through to experienced. If Martha is not calling a dance or dancing, she greatly enjoys playing for the dances. As a 5-string banjo player, an Irish flute and bodhran player, Martha is at home in all rolls at a contra/square dance!
Cooper is also a regular at local old-time and Irish jams, always with a flute or banjo in tow.
Martha Cooper is known for her gentle approach to sharing her knowledge. A highly skilled musician and practitioner of the folk arts, Martha brings a respectful authority to her work which is appreciated by her peers and students.
At the Ottawa Folklore Centre, Martha quickly became established as a multi-instrumental instructor to the young and elderly; teaching flute, ukulele, penny whistle, banjo, and Irish drum. Martha’s tenure at the OFC eventually led to her promotion to the in-house arts administrator, a position she kept while teaching until 2015.
Another of Martha’s many hats is that of a music and movement teacher for very young children. A trained Kindermusik and Suzuki Early Childhood teacher, Martha has designed a program to help children learn about how their bodies can move and be expressive while at the same time learning the fundamentals of music. From as young as newborn babies to children of 5 or 6, Martha’s music program pleases all.
With her mother, Elizabeth Corewin, (playwright, musician and quilting consultant), Martha restores, customizes and creates quilts of astonishing depth and beauty. With a comprehensive catalogue available to browse here at Cooper Heritage Arts, Martha has taken the quilting world by storm. A firm knowledge of tradition and interest in local methods mixed with a keen observation of contemporary quilt styles has kept Cooper on the cutting edge of quilt creation.
Want to see more? Take a look at the quilting gallery
Contact Martha Today
Email:
martha.m.cooper@gmail.com
Phone:
+1 705 761 0676