Joe Cotter: Acrylics, ceramics
Sculpture
In 1998, Joe was commissioned by Mike McMenamin to create a life sized bronze cast sculpture of Jerry Garcia for Edgefield in Troutdale. Work on the piece commenced in December of 1998 at Joe and Kolieha’s studio in Estacada. The original was completed in May of 1999 and the foundry, Burning Palace Bronze, fabricated the mold at the Estacada studio. The piece was cast at the Boring foundry and sited at Edgefield that summer.
Ceramics
Joe studied ceramics in a class conducted by Am Griswold at the Estacada Community School in late 1999. Since that time he has created many ceramic pieces from masks and figurative to abstract and low relief. His most recent pieces are semi figurative and stark white clay with bronze glazed edges against a black background. These pieces are framed and hang on a wall. Recently, Joe has painted on abstract ceramic forms and framed them for wall pieces as well.
Murals
Joe first started painting on murals in Portland in 1988 and he began to paint for the McMenamin brothers in 1990. He has been painting on murals in Estacada as a member of the artists cooperative
“Artback” since 1994. There have been 14 Artback murals painted in Estacada since that time.
Joe was lead artist for the old Outside In mural, “For the People” (1989-90) in Portland, as well as the “Cycle of Wood” (1996) and “The Arts in Estacada” (2003) murals in Estacada. He was fortunate enough to design and paint a section of the mural on the Musicians Union in 2006. The coordinator on that mural was Isaka Shamsud-Din and the other artists were Isaka, Hector Hernandez and Baba Wague Diakite. The Musicians Union is located on NE 20th between Burnside and San
Publicly Accessible Pieces
Some of the major examples of Joe’s artwork can be found at the Crystal Ballroom, McMenamins Edgefield, Suburo’s Sushi House Restaurant in Sellwood and the Reservation Center for Parks and Recreation on the first floor of the Portland Building.
The "Jerry" tree at McMenamin's Edgefield in Troutdale.
Joe has been creating artwork professionally since 1980. His work runs the gamut from murals, easel paintings and prints to bronze and ceramic sculpture.
The Chameleons Garden
Since 1981, the Chameleons Garden has been a studio space for Joe Cotter and his partner, artist Kolieha Bush. Originally a grocery store, the Chameleons Garden houses the paint and supplies for the Artback Artists Cooperative in Estacada as well as providing a space to store costumes and construct sets for the Performing Arts Group of Estacada (P.A.G.E.). The building was the site for several collective art shows in the late 1980’s and early 1990’s.
Our beloved Joe passed away on March 31 of 2012. Our June 2012 Featured Artist will be a Retrospective of Joe's life and works.
We would like to say goodbye to our dear friend and fellow gallery member, Joe Cotter. His passing will forever leave our hearts saddened. Our thoughts and prayers are with his wonderful family. Joe was a great artist and friend to so many - he was truly one of the nicest people you could ever meet. We will miss you, Joe!
Click HERE to see a video of Joe as he is interviewed about a beautiful mural he painted in Portland.
Click HERE to find out more about Joe's Memorial Fund for the Restoration of the Murals.
Joe's work is still available in our gallery - so come on by!
