A Reminiscence of Carol Hepper
Sarah van Ouwerkerk remembers Carol Hepper
Carol Hopper passed away on April 29 2021.
One day some years back, I saw Carol’s work in a gallery in Callicoon, NY. I thought to myself, I have to meet this person; she breathes the essence of the country in her work. I contacted her, and we became friends.
Island 2000, 90″x 268″ (7’6″ x 24′), fish skin, fishing line, pigment, wire, lights
Carol and I didn’t talk about work as much as we talked about where work came from. This included the vast expanse of space in the country, the smell of animals, and the textures of wheat fields and prairies. Carol told the most amazing stories of playing Meredith Monk, who I was friendly with, on a boom box for herds of bison, and the rough winters having to go out to get the cattle on horseback. She made her environment come alive for me with these tales and the incredible fish skin pieces she made, when she drew on her past to create her work.
Percussion 2000, 88”x 63”x 11”, sturgeon skin, pigment, fishing line, wire armature
Tsunami 2000, 9’3” x 15’, fish skin, fishing line, pigment, armature
Listening to her, I was transported back to my own childhood in Wisconsin, lying in a cow pasture with my sister, staring up at the sky and thinking life was perfect. I will always be grateful for those conversations that reminded me of how I got here. They were sweet, tender, and inspiring. Theory, the business of art, all that comes later and is often more difficult to navigate. First, the artist has to be born, and Carol knew where she came from.
I miss you.
Slit Hide, 1994, 16” x 12” x 3”, funnel, slit hide
thank you for writing this. It means a great deal to me. I am so glad I met Carol and enjoyed multiple conversations- each more than the last- not many, but each rich and meaningful.
this is beautiful
I am Carol’s sister. This is so sweet! Thank you for sharing your memories.
Gail Bonn
I felt an instant kinship with Carol when I met her last August, not imagining that our first conversation would be our last. Thank you for helping color in some oats.
This is so right on. Carol was a light. I can’t believe she’s gone.
I want to echo Robert Taplin’s comment; Carol was indeed a light.
The work she made could only be made as sculpture. Her works needed real space, real physicality, color, texture — she wanted it all in her work and she got it.
I appreciated your writing this. I always admired Carol and her work and was very sad to learn of her passing. Thank you for capturing her essence.