Geoff Cobb interviewed by Horace Sapp
Horace Sapp (00:04): My name is Sapp, and I'm here at Bare Hill on October-
Geoff Cobb (00:13): 3rd.
Horace Sapp (00:14): ... 3, 2023.
Geoff Cobb (00:15): Mm-hmm.
Horace Sapp (00:17): And I'm here with my teacher, Mr...
Geoff Cobb (00:17): Cobb.
Horace Sapp (00:21): Mr. Cobb. (laughs) Mr. Cobb, the art man.
Geoff Cobb (00:22): (laughs)
Horace Sapp (00:24): Um, I would like to ask you a few questions. Do you mind?
Geoff Cobb (00:29): No, not at all.
Horace Sapp (00:30): So my first question would be, um, how does it feel to know that you are puttin' the joy in people's life when you're teaching them about art?
Geoff Cobb (00:46): Actually, uh, as he just said in- in the interview before, uh, just hearing, you know, the- the fact that, uh, someone e- enjoyed the class, learned- learned something about themselves, uh, achieved, you know, a drawing that- that they were- that they were happy about, and that brought joy to them. Um, just, you know, seeing- seeing, uh, the- the joy of accomplishment in- in students. Um, as a teacher, my prime directive in... As being a teacher of art, is to not turn a student off to art.
Horace Sapp (01:38): Mm-hmm.
Geoff Cobb (01:38): Like, that's that worst thing (laughs) that I could do. You know? And, uh, you... The best thing that I can do is turn somebody on to art.
Horace Sapp (01:47): Okay.
Geoff Cobb (01:47): Yeah, and that they... And they take it away with them, and- uh, and have it, you know, uh, uh, for the rest of their lives. So, yeah.
Horace Sapp (01:59): That's- That's nice to hear. Um, so coming to a place like this, um, how can you tell me your- the feeling you get from meetin' people incarcerated?
Geoff Cobb (02:19): Oh, yeah. Well-
Horace Sapp (02:21): With so much talents that you... How does that make you feel to see the talents that you be- ran into in a place like this?
Geoff Cobb (02:30): You know, I had some expectations coming in here, um, and I had some idea, and I had mostly no idea-
Horace Sapp (02:47): (laughs) Okay.
Geoff Cobb (02:48): ... what to expect coming here. Um, and, uh, sometimes, the things that I expected w- weren't there at all.
Horace Sapp (02:59): Okay.
Geoff Cobb (03:00): Yeah? So, like, I- I expected you guys to maybe throw more shade on each other, you know?
Horace Sapp (03:08): Right. Right.
Geoff Cobb (03:08): More trash talking, or something like that. A- And there was none of it. Y'all were- were very supportive of each other, um, and, uh, very encouraging to each other. Um, and it was mostly a quiet atmosphere in here-
Horace Sapp (03:27): Yeah.
Geoff Cobb (03:27): ... and a working atmosphere. And that was completely... Like, I- I didn't expect that, you know?
Horace Sapp (03:35): Okay.
Geoff Cobb (03:35): And- And, uh... And, you know, uh, uh, i- it- it made it, uh... The class, you know, i- it made it what it- what it was, um, and, uh... And, uh... I'm sorry. I feel like I got away from the question.
Horace Sapp (03:55): This environment.
Geoff Cobb (03:56): Oh, yeah. Yeah. Um, uh, it just...
Horace Sapp (03:57): It's okay. It's okay-
Geoff Cobb (03:57): Everybody- Everybody has...
Horace Sapp (03:57): ... to be having a silent moment.
Geoff Cobb (04:15): You know, everybody has had, just like in life, their own journey.
Horace Sapp (04:20): Mm-hmm.
Geoff Cobb (04:20): In each, uh, thing. In- In your artwork, and what you're dealin' with. You know? You wanted to learn, you know? You wanted to accomplish, you know? Even in this class, you know? It's- It's, uh, you know, kinda representative in a way of, you know, other- other parts of your life that I have no idea. You know?
Horace Sapp (04:41): Okay.
Geoff Cobb (04:41): And, um, uh, again, you know, I- I- I could see the joy it made. You know? I could see that comin' up, you know? I could see- see the joy in Spencer, you know? Um, and- and others. Um, I love the conversations that we had in this class.
Horace Sapp (05:03): Right.
Geoff Cobb (05:04): You know? About different artists, and what was art, and poo pooing certain artists. You know?
Horace Sapp (05:12): (laughs)
Geoff Cobb (05:12): Talking about Banksy, we did quite a- quite a bit, and really kinda analyzed, you know, what- what- what makes Banksy an artist. You know?
Horace Sapp (05:20): Right.
Geoff Cobb (05:21): Those types of discussions. Those were rich, you know? Those... So-
Horace Sapp (05:27): Well, to- to you, what makes an artist an artist?
Geoff Cobb (05:32): I think an artist is- is... Again, it's- it's, uh, how you perceive- perceive your world. You know? Uh, what you see in it. I think there's certain... You know, art encourages wonder. You know? And, uh, you know, um... You know, coming at something critically. You know? Not necessarily negative, but-
Horace Sapp (06:08): Mm-hmm.
Geoff Cobb (06:08): ... but- but picking it apart. You know?
Horace Sapp (06:10): Mm-hmm.
Geoff Cobb (06:11): What- What makes it tick? You know? Wha- What makes somebody make that mark.
Horace Sapp (06:17): Mm-hmm.
Geoff Cobb (06:18): You know? Instead of this mark. You know? Uh-
Horace Sapp (06:21): Right. Right.
Geoff Cobb (06:21): Those types of- of questions, and, uh, yeah. I mean, other than that, it's... You know, really good- good question, and... You know? "What- What makes somebody an artist?" You know?
Horace Sapp (06:41): So-
Geoff Cobb (06:42): (laughs)
Horace Sapp (06:43): ... what do you think of me a- as an artist?
Geoff Cobb (06:46): Ah, I think you're wonderful.
Horace Sapp (06:46): (laughs)
Geoff Cobb (06:48): (laughs) I think you're, again, just- just an absolute joy. And, uh... And, you know, you get- you get better. You know? It's like any muscle. You- You- You get better as you- you practice, and you- you get more flexible. More forgiving, you know? You get tighter, you know? Um, in- in your skills, and, um, you know, you can lay down- lay down those lines with- with, uh, more confidence. You know? And when you're doin' it. Yeah.
Horace Sapp (07:25): Oh, so you noticed that?
Geoff Cobb (07:25): Yeah. Sure, sure.
Horace Sapp (07:34): Appreciate it.
Geoff Cobb (07:35): Yeah.
Horace Sapp (07:35): (laughs) That's a good one.
Geoff Cobb (07:35): Yeah.
Horace Sapp (07:35): Well, uh, I appreciate you on your feedback, especially not only as an artist. I mean, you've been really recognizing a- a difference from, like, the beginning until now. You know, I actually started enjoying that other one. Um, I think that was comin' along pretty good. What did you think?
Geoff Cobb (07:55): The... Your second drawing?
Horace Sapp (07:56): Yes.
Geoff Cobb (07:57): Yes. Yes, I did.
Horace Sapp (08:01): Um, a question, I hear we're supposed to have another, um, art class you said. Right?
Geoff Cobb (08:07): Mm-hmm.
Horace Sapp (08:08): Um, and this one is dealin' with drawing a family member.
Geoff Cobb (08:12) Yeah.
Horace Sapp (08:13): So what are the... Um, how I wanna put the word? What are the qualifications of so far as havin' the pictures to draw? Do they have to be, uh, somewhat like portraits, um, photo- photographs, or can you bring in your tablet? If there's somethin' that y'all checked into about that?
Geoff Cobb (08:41): Do you have a tablet?
Horace Sapp (08:42): Yeah. We have tablets with photos bein' sent to us from the kiosk.
Geoff Cobb (08:50): Yes.
Horace Sapp (08:51): And see, I don't have, like, the actual-
Geoff Cobb (08:56): Hard pictures?
Horace Sapp (08:57): Pictures. So-
Geoff Cobb (08:59): Okay.
Horace Sapp (08:59): ... if I was to join this next class, which I'm thinkin'of it, those are the only pictures that I have.
Geoff Cobb (09:05): Yeah.
Horace Sapp (09:07): Is- Is there any way y'all are gonna find out about that?
Geoff Cobb (09:09): Um, I can, but I think it's quicker for you to find out (laughs) what- what- uh, what you'll need because that... Uh, the program is changing from my original design. This third session that I'm doing-
Horace Sapp (09:30): Mm-hmm.
Geoff Cobb (09:30): ... um, is [inaudible 00:09:33] changed my- my class to make it more conducive to their needs. Um-
Horace Sapp (09:41): Oh.
Geoff Cobb (09:42): ... so that specific question of whether or not you can bring a tablet is under their design.
Horace Sapp (09:50): Oh, okay.
Geoff Cobb (09:50): I would assume, if you're allowed to have a tablet, that you're allowed to bring a tablet here. So... But that's an assumption. Not in my power.
Horace Sapp (09:58): Oh, okay. So is... Technically, the class is changin'
Geoff Cobb (10:03): Mm-hmm.
Horace Sapp (10:03): ... to a different type- type of class.
Geoff Cobb (10:05): Mm-hmm.
Horace Sapp (10:06): It's not gonna be like the original art class that we just took?
Geoff Cobb (10:10): Right.
Horace Sapp (10:11): Oh, that's-
Geoff Cobb (10:12): Similar. I mean, you'll... Drawing, you'll be working on drawing skills. Yeah.
Horace Sapp (10:17): Okay. All right. That's-
Geoff Cobb (10:18): And as a teacher, I'll meet individual needs as- as- as they come. I'll... Yeah. Uh-
Horace Sapp (10:24): Oh, okay. So that's- that's a good question that I asked because that's somethin' good to know-
Geoff Cobb (10:30): Yeah.
Horace Sapp (10:31): ... goin'into the next session. You know?
Geoff Cobb (10:33): Yeah.
Horace Sapp (10:34): And we didn't know that. See, we wasn't noticed of that. We thought it was gonna be just like the original class we just took.
Geoff Cobb (10:42): Yeah.
Horace Sapp (10:42): Just we're gonna be drawin' family members this time.
Geoff Cobb (10:43): Right. Family, or loved ones.
Horace Sapp (10:47): Mm-hmm.
Geoff Cobb (10:47): Friends, I suppose.
Horace Sapp (10:49): They were... Well, anybody-
Geoff Cobb (10:50): Right.
Horace Sapp (10:50): ... they say.
Geoff Cobb (10:51): Mm-hmm.
Horace Sapp (10:53): So... Oh, that's good to know.
Geoff Cobb (10:54): You got a pet dog?
Horace Sapp (10:55): (laughs)
Geoff Cobb (10:55): If you wanted to draw your dog. (laughs)
Horace Sapp (10:58): Well, no, um, I'm glad I asked that because that's somethin' that I'm gonna have to look into. Because I'm- I'm... Like I said, I might actually wanna join the class again.
Geoff Cobb (11:10): Sure.
Horace Sapp (11:10): That's how much I appreciate it, um, but the only family I have is on that tablet. So...
Geoff Cobb (11:18): Right. Okay.
Horace Sapp (11:21): Unless I can draw that guy over there. (laughs)
Geoff Cobb (11:23): Yeah. Yes.
Horace Sapp (11:25): But, uh, uh-
Geoff Cobb (11:28): Everybody loves him, Bert.
Horace Sapp (11:31): Yeah. Well, Mr. Cobb, though, it was nice, um, interviewing you. Your questions- Your answers was very profound. I liked it, um, and I like the feedback that you gave me on myself as an artist. That gave me more courage to wanna, you know, reach out there. Like they say, the sky is the limits.
Geoff Cobb (11:54): Mm-hmm.
Horace Sapp (11:54): So, um, yeah. There you have it. I'm Mr. Horace Sapp. This interview with my teacher, Mr. Cobb. And I wanna say that he is, uh, a very good art teacher, and has some very good feedback when it comes to art.
Geoff Cobb (12:12): Thank you, Sapp.
Horace Sapp (12:13): Thank you.