Rebecca Koop is a woman who wears many hats. She works as the events director at the Northeast Kansas City Chamber of Commerce, owns a pottery business on St. John Avenue, and also plans events for Northeast Arts KC.

She taught part-time at William Jewell College and also sold her own pottery at art shows and festivals.

Rebecca grew up in the Northeast and for her, it’s home.

Rebecca started Back Door Pottery about 40 years ago after she graduated from the art institute in 1979.

She’s been at her current studio since 1986 and also eventually bought the lot next door.

A community garden was started in the lot. She began the garden with a few of her neighbors and now there are more than 40 beds in the garden.

With Northeast Arts KC, she was able to work with neighborhood preservation and paint on boards that would go over windows.

“I’ve always wanted to beautify the neighborhood and came up with the concept of window dressing,” said Koop.

Local artists worked on boards that would go up on a house that had 38 windows and doors, the boards looked like individual playing cards.

“Art is also just a part of my life, it’s a part of your DNA,” said Koop. “Most artists will find a way to be creative outside of their job or their situations.”