Jodie Cooper – “For me, art is less about the finished piece and more about the journey”

Since it open its doors, we’ve found ArtWorks Together International at Millennium Gallery to be a gift that keeps on giving. We featured it as a whole back in February, closely followed by an art feature with Alice Bulmer. This time, it’s the turn of Rotherham-born, Sheffield-based textile creator Jodie Cooper, whose stunning free-motion embroidery is packed with fine-detail observations of the natural world. She’s currently got an installation at Sheffield Train Station, commissioned by ArtWorks and East Midlands Railway, which runs until 15 June, and you can also often find her at local art markets.

Hello Jodie, and thank you for taking the time to talk to us. Could you start by telling us a bit about yourself and how you came to be a practicing artist?

I completed my degree in Fine and Applied Arts at the University Centre Rotherham in May last year, specialising in textiles. I was working a part-time job and suffering with autistic burnout, unable to thrive and be myself. I started applying for art call outs and ended up winning a few competitions for my free-motion embroidery work, and then got the ArtWorks Together commission and took the leap to being a full-time textile artist.

We of course came across your work via the wonderful ArtWorks Together International Festival in Sheffield. How has it been to have your work shown alongside such a diverse range of other artists?

It’s been such a great experience. ArtWorks have opened up the doors for neurodivergent artists in the art world and made access be seen as a minimum standard, rather than an option. This is so important, especially to emerging artists such as myself, giving us the confidence to continue our professional art journeys. 

I understand that you were personally commissioned by AWT and East Midlands Railway to produce the tapestry providing a ‘window onto the world’ at Sheffield Train Station – what a fantastic concept. Can you tell us a bit about that commission?

The commission was a six-month project, using different textile processes to create a tactile surface. It isn’t behind glass and it sits in a public space, creating the opportunity for you to get up close and personal with the piece. I documented the whole process through my blog and discussed the meanings behind the piece, highlighting my own struggles and challenges. For me, art is less about the finished piece and more about the journey throughout the creative process that gets you there.

It highlights how people can struggle with travel for different reasons and that coping mechanisms to deal with that can vary. This was to open up a conversation about access and being more mindful of others around you. Aside from your positive experiences with ArtWorks, have you found that there are barriers to getting your work exhibited? How do you hope to see things change to make the exhibition process more accessible?

Applying to exhibitions and other art call outs is daunting for anyone. Believing in yourself with the chance that you may not be chosen can be disheartening. 

The application processes are long and you may not even get feedback on why you weren’t selected. I’ve found that on most applications, they use very complicated wording and specific vocabulary that can make it difficult to know what they’re asking you. There is often a short sentence at the end of every application form saying, ‘If you need the application in a different format then to get in touch,’ but isn’t this creating another unnecessary barrier to access? Easy read formats and alternative communication preferences should be standard, especially in an industry where neurodivergent people aren’t a minority.

After your current installation comes to a close in mid June, do you have any other plans in the pipeline for over the summer and beyond that we should be noting down in our diaries?

I’ve been working on several projects over the last few months. I’ve discovered a passion for leading art workshops, so I’m hoping for some local opportunities to pop up that I can be involved in! 

In the meantime I have been working on my textile and sewing skills and you can often find me at local artist markets with my sewn accessories. I’m always up for trying something new and getting involved in local projects and building connections. Feel free to reach out on Instagram or through my website if you’d like to chat.