Sarah Coote

An early volume Q & A with artist Sarah Coote from January 2016

Volume: Where do you live / where do you work?

Sarah Coote: Currently I live and work in Richmond, Virginia. 

Volume: Can you give a quick description of your work space?

Coote: I’m getting my master’s degree at VCU and their studios are pretty great. My space is a large three-walled studio with big windows.

Volume: What's your day to day studio schedule like?

Coote: I get up, bike to my studio, make coffee and read e-mails, and then I get to work or go to class.

Volume: Who's work have you been looking at lately?

Coote: Lately I’ve been reading a lot of Kathy Acker’s novels and Julie Doucet comics. Artists I’ve been looking at lately are Kathe Burkhart, Sophie Calle, Gillian Wearing and Candice Breitz.

Volume: What was the last show you saw in person that impacted your work?

Coote: Samara Golden’s A Fall of Corners at Canada gallery in September was special, I also really enjoyed Andrea McGinty’s show at High Tide gallery in Philadelphia this past December.

Volume: What kind of work are you currently making?

Coote: I’m working on some photographs and film stills from various found footage and continuing to work with new materials like rug mats and shower curtains.

Volume: What influences your practice outside of the studio?

Coote: I am really influenced by music. I go to a lot shows in Richmond and previously in Philadelphia where I used to live. I usually go by myself. I like it that way because if I’m feeling lonely or alienated, I can be around a group of strangers and not feel like I need to prove anything; we’re there for the bands. I like being in those rooms.