​Ruth Teal Cooper (1926-1973) was an artist and arts instructor in McDowell County throughout the 1950s and 60s.
She was an active advocate for arts education, taught art at McDowell Junior High, adult arts education at MTCC (on State Street), and private classes for adults and children in her home on Park Avenue. She was also an original member of MACA its founding year, 1972.

She was a private student of Freda Widder Ledford and Eugene Healan Thomason. She passed at age 47, in 1973, leaving a rich legacy of art and arts education in McDowell County.

Seven years after her passing Mr. Walker J. Cooper (Ruth's husband) hosted "The Ruth Teal Retrospective Exhibit" in spring of 1980 to celebrate her art and life.

This was also the formal opening of the McDowell Arts Center Gallery at 101 West Court St (we've moved a few times). There are a few Polaroid photos below where a photo of the painting of Mr. Barn's Barn can be seen hanging in this show.
In Fall of 2022, our friend Patin Howard gifted MACA four original RTC paintings for our Permanent Collection. One of those paintings was Mr. Barn's Barn, a 1958 oil, which happened to have a provence in our records from that 1980 gallery show.
We hope to share more with you as we find out more ourselves about the legacy of art that shapes who we are and where we are going. Thank you Ruth, for bringing art education to McDowell County Schools.

Below is a photo of "Mr. Barn's Barn" Ruth Teal Cooper, 1958. Oil on masonite. 12x16. From the MACA Permanent Collection. A gift from Patin Howard, 2022. You can visit it in-person any day that MACA is open