About Us

The J. T. COOPER STUDIO is comprised of an evolving team of people responsible for producing these high quality and unique designs in metal.  Each of these team members is an artist in their own life, bringing their individual skills to our studio projects.

JOE COOPER, is the artistic director and is involved in all aspects of the studio work, particularly design, welding  and metal fabrication.  He collaborates with our clients to ensure that the highest level of quality is achieved for each installation .

BILL RATTERREE is responsible for all aspects of our metal processes.  He is also an accomplished machinist with many years of experience fabricating prototype machinery for an international manufacturing firm.  He builds the stainless steel components and supports and is adept at installing the intricate electrical wiring used in the custom lighting fixtures.   Bill drives and maintains a 1928 Ford Model A.

PATTI PEAKE brings over 10 years experience with ornamental iron fabrication.   She is known for her devotion to doing quality work.  She does many of our aged finish patinas and also the welding of the textured bronze and copper used in our lighting fixtures.  Patti sings and plays the accordion and piano and is an award winning actress in local theater.

NICHOLAS LOWE is the newest member of the team.  Nick has a special skill with the torch for creating the beautiful dark bronze patinas.  He is pursuing a degree in welding technology and is an accomplished cook.

GEORGE ANDREWS, P.E., is our consulting electrical engineer.  He has taught electrical engineering at the university level and is an inventor with many electrical patents.  George has produced several CD's featuring his work on classical guitar and also jazz standards on upright bass.

DEAN BESS builds the crates for shipping our work to its new home.  He is an artist of crate building and has many years of experience in crating and shipping valuable objects all over the globe. 

SPECIAL THANKS:   Sean McManus, Keith Holamon,  Aaron Alderman, Shelley Moore, Irv Haines.   These people are all artists with the torch and in life and have been there for us over the years on those larger projects.

MELISSA THOMPSON has been coordinating the studio's web site and graphic design since 2001.  She is a documentary film maker and social activist.  Over the last 12 years, her work has been shown in many film exhibitions.

SUSAN COOK  had the original concept for our web site and set up the overall design.   She is also a journalist and musician and is now back in her native New Zealand as the owner/chef of a wilderness experience lodge on the Mokihinui River, West Coast of the South Island.   www.roughand tumble.co.nz