Midtown Murals Project

Artist Highlights

Featured Artist
Inaugural Mural

James Cooper is our program director.   James has lived and worked in Midtown for 5 years and is quite an accomplished artist in his own right.

James  L Cooper Jr. was born in Seattle Washington in 1953.  Watching his mother paint sparked his interest in Art.  At age 9 that interest was expressed in the design of futuristic cars and planes.  A seventh grade teacher gave him a wooden log and stimulated a lasting fascination with sculpture.   His interest was primarily expressed in wood until discovering the work of Henry Moore.  This stone sculptures of Henry Moore provided the most lasting impression continuing today.  In 1974 James studied in the Advertising Arts Program at Seattle Community College.  The two year experience convinced him that commercial art was not the avenue of expression for his art.  A job opportunity in the building trades  provided a skill and business career for the next 20 years.  A lasting and continuing love of art prompted James in 1991 to re-focus on Art as a primary source of income.  Drawing on his design background and business experience  he has been involved in projects as diverse as jewelry design and lighted artwork.  He has recently led a volunteer effort, to bring to Sacramento a community murals project.  The inspiration for the Midtown Murals Project came from his home in Seattle.   As the program director for the project, he continues to devote his effort with local businesses and neighborhood organizations to oversee the completion of the inaugural mural.