Kopp and Kraft.

Sounds like a buddy cop duo from a beloved ‘80s franchise, right? 

Well, although neither Kim Kopp nor Jim Kraft regularly carries a gun to work, they are in fact longtime buddies and just as stylish. 

And style — along with structure, surface, form and function — are what the two noted artists will be showcasing via their respective mediums during a special joint exhibition at Northwind Arts Center this month.

Kopp and Kraft will display works exploring their mutual interests in structure and deep shared commitment to the beauty of surfaces, according to gallery officials. An exhibition more than a year in the making, temporarily stalled (like so much else) by the rise of COVID, and now finally set to open, “In Conversation” seeks to be exactly that, a representational back-and-forth between two talented friends.

“We share a lot of interests and have known each other for a while,” Kopp said. “In any two-person show, you want to see some relationships between the work and we do share an aesthetic.”  

Combining drawing, painting, and digital photography, Kopp’s images investigate form and color as gleaned from branching structures in nature, and how they capture and break up light. 

Kraft, meanwhile, is most concerned with surface texture, but ultimately the simple form of the vessel captivates and drives his ceramics work. 

“We both get our inspiration from the natural world,” Kraft said. “I don’t think we’re talking about culture or political ideas or anything. 

“I think the visual aspect of our work is kind of linear,” he added. “Hers with the branches, and mine with some of the coil pieces and extruded pieces, which are also very linear. I think they both have elements of the natural world.”

They bring different but complimentary perspectives to the act of creation, and their work, when taken together, offers savvy viewers other artistic insights as well.

“Sometimes a [show’s] focus or name or title helps, but I think our conversation really is just the fact we’ve been friends for a while and we have so much in common,” Kraft said. 

“I see a lot of similarities in our work in general so finding a resonance is really not that challenging,” Kopp agreed. “[Texture] is something we’re both interested in, although we approach structure a little differently.”

“In Conversation” will be available to view from 12 to 5 p.m. Friday to Sunday, or by appointment, Friday, Sept. 4 through Sunday, Sept. 27. Northwind Arts Center is located at 701 Water St. Visit www.northwindarts.org to learn more. 

Kopp said she is excited to see galleries opening again, even if in a limited capacity, as online-only shows are unable to replicate some key aspects of the viewing experience. 

“Both my work and Jim’s work, and actually any artwork ... when you are in the presence of it you then take it in through your other senses,” she explained. “Scale is lost on the web.”

There is a world of difference, the artist said, between standing before a 4-inch image of a painting on a screen and the real thing, 5 feet wide and 4 feet tall on a gallery wall. 

“As an artist, I’m grateful to Northwind and the Port Townsend community for coming and looking at the work,” Kopp said. “It’s a great thing.”