Statement
I've been a serious working artist for over 30 years and it never ceases to amaze me that I never tire of the process of creativity, which entraps and enthralls me.
I have a restless intellect and although I am concerned with color, composition, form, line and texture with my most significant intangibles being process, mood and energy, I love the process and materials used to manifest my thoughts into a visible entity I approach personal, political and conceptual themes with an introspective expression. I respond to my concept, which then determines my media, and the media then determines the style.
I use metaphor more often than not. The finished work may seem quite simple and uncomplicated but they began with very complicated thoughts. I feel the finished work should stand by itself so the viewer is not hit in the face but quietly understands that beyond first glance there is more than meets the eye in the work.
Although I generally work in series I also work on more isolated pieces and I've chosen a few for this web site.
Biography
Born in New York City, raised in Pennsylvania and relocated to Idaho in 1977. I choose to live and work in Boise, Idaho. I feel fortunate to live and create as I wish without the pressures of 'the art world'; the high cost of city living and I have an appreciation of the isolation to make art uninfluenced by trends, hype or endemic imagery.
In 1999 I was awarded an Idaho Commission on the Arts Fellowship and in 2000 I was the recipient of the Governor's Award for Excellence in the Arts (one of two for individual artists and the only one in the visual arts).
My work has been shown in many juried and invitational exhibits and in 2 international arts festivals. My work is collected locally, nationally and internationally.
Links:
Education
Pennsylvania State University, PA
Palomar College, CA
Boise State University, ID (BFA)
Awards and Grants
2009 |
Quick Funds Grant, Idaho Commission on the Arts |
2008 |
Quick Funds Grant, Idaho Commission on the Arts |
2006 |
Quick Funds Grant, Idaho Commission on the Arts |
2005 |
Quick Funds Grant, Idaho Commission on the Arts |
2004 |
Quick Funds Grant, Idaho Commission on the Arts |
2002 |
Awarded commission Boise City Visual Chronicle Permanent Collection |
2000 |
Governors Award for Excellence in the Arts |
1999 |
Fellowship, Idaho Commission on the Arts |
|
Professional Assistance Idaho Commission on the Arts Sudden Opportunity Grant, Idaho Commission on the Arts and the National Endowment for the Arts |
1998 |
Kennedy Center Travel Grant, Washington D.C. |
1997 |
Sudden Opportunity Grant, Idaho Commission on the Arts |
1996 |
Technical Assistance Grant, Idaho Commission on the Arts |
Selected Solo Exhibit
2008 |
Luminosity, Prichard Gallery, University of Idaho, Moscow ID |
2006 |
N'est-ce pas?, J. Crist Gallery, Boise, ID |
2005 |
Boise Open Studio Exhibit, Boise ID |
2003 |
Boise Open Studio Exhibit, Boise ID |
2000 |
Legends & Legacy, J. Crist Gallery, Boise ID |
1997 |
Flower, J. Crist Gallery, Boise ID |
1991 |
Romero De Martinez Gallery, Boise ID |
1988 |
Stewart Gallery, Boise ID |
Selected Group Exhibitions
2010 |
Not Just a Pretty Face, Boise Art Museum, Boise ID |
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Full Circle, Boise Art Museum, Boise ID |
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We art Woman, Boise ID |
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M(others) Boise State University, Boise ID |
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State Department Art in Embassies Program, American Embassy, Kuala Lampur Malaysia |
2006 |
Projekt Locqa, Rosenthal Gallery, Albertson College (College of Idaho), Caldwell ID |
2005 |
Introductions, Jcrist Gallery, Boise, ID |
|
OSCO Exhibit Boise Art Museum, June, Boise ID |
2004-05 |
Idaho Triennial Juried, Boise Art Museum, Boise ID |
2004 |
VSArts, Juried, International Arts Festival, Washington, DC |
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Bosco exhibit Boise Art Museum, Boise ID |
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Booker's Dozen, juried Artist's Book Traveling Exhibit, Idaho Center for the Book, Boise ID |
2003 |
Invitational Annual, Basement Gallery, Boise ID |
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Boise Open Studio Collective Tour Exhibit, Boise ID |
2001 |
Visual Considerations of an Unspeakable Moment-9/11/01 Boise State University, Boise ID |
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4 State Fellowship Exhibit, Millennium Art Center, Washington, DC |
2000 |
Visual Arts Fellowship Traveling Exhibition, Prichard Art Gallery, Moscow ID & Boise State Univ., Boise ID |
1997 |
The More the Merrier III, j. Crist, Boise ID |
1996 |
The More the Merrier II, j. Crist, Boise ID |
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A Rose is a Rose is a Rose: A Summer Salon, j. Crist, Boise ID |
1995 |
Very Special Arts Juried, Traveling Exhibit, Seattle WA |
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National Small Works Juried Exhibition, Boise State University, Boise ID |
1993 |
Paine Weber Gallery, Juried Show, New York NY |
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VSA Gallery, Juried Exhibition, Washington, DC |
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Bacardi Gallery, Juried Show, Miami FL |
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WomanSpeak, Invitational, Transition Gallery, Idaho State University, Pocatello ID |
1991 |
Idaho Biennial, Juried Show, Boise Art Museum, Boise ID |
1990 |
Spirit of the West, Juried Show, Boise ID |
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Allied Arts, Juried Exhibition, Richland WA |
1989 |
IBM Madison Ave. Gallery, Juried Group Show, New York NY |
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Stewart Gallery Invitational, Boise ID |
1988 |
Peer Group Exhibit, Governor's Awards, Boise ID |
1987 |
Call to Rise, Juried Show, Orlando Museum of Art, Orlando FL |
1986 |
Northwest '86, Cheney Cowles Memorial Museum, Spokane WA |
Bibliography
Zurlini, Jennifer, Luminosity, Spokane Review, February19, 2009
Rowley, Roger HD, Luminosity, Insight, University of Idaho Publication. February, 2009
Schnoor, Chris. Idaho Triennial…, Artweek, April 2005
Schnoor, Chris. Idaho, NY, Boise Weekly, January 12, 2005 p. 16
Oland, Dana. Art and healing,The Idaho Statesman, August 26, 2001, p. B1
Clutter, Tyrus. Best and brightest, Boise Weekly, March 23-29, 2000, p. 18.
Flagg, Marianne. Artists on tour, The Idaho Statesman, March 10, 2000, p.1E.
Eight Days Out, Boise Weekly, March 9-15, 2000, p.19.
Ronayne, Diane. Mitchell’s art evokes legacy of Jewish heritage, The Idaho Statesman, February 2000
Best Bets. Scene, The Idaho Statesman, February 22, 2000
Schnoor, Chris. Home is where the art is, Boise Magazine, Spring 1999, p. 95.
Flagg, Marianne. Home studio turns artist’s dream into reality, The Idaho Statesman, January 17, 1999, p. E6.
Eight Days Out, Boise Weekly, May 8-14, 1997, p. 15.
Best Bets, Scene, The Idaho Statesman, May 9, 1997, p.2.
Schnoor, Chris. Holiday hors d’oeuvres, Reflex Magazine, February 1996, p. 17.
National Small Painting, Sculpture, New Forms Exhibition Catalog, Boise State University, March 1995, p.1
Duda, S. Art makes me sick: dealing with toxic art supplies, Boise Weekly, January 1995, p. 18.
Artist Profile, Women’s Times, Sun Valley, ID, July 1994.
Boise Weekly, June 1994.
The Idaho Statesman, June 1994.
The Creative Will, Pomegranate Art and Calendars, November 1993, p. 24.
1994 Project Rembrandt Calendar, Pomegranate Art and Calendars, 1993.
Cover, Boise Magazine, April 1991.
Spearman, Will. An artistic affair: Bold, vibrant colors strengthen abstract works by Surel Mitchell, The Idaho Statesman, August 2, 1991, p. 11.
Centennial Biennial: Contemporary Idaho Art, Boise Art Museum Catalog, April 1990, p. 38.
Boise Magazine, September 1988.
Boise Magazine, March 1988, pp. 50-51.
Professional Experience
2006 |
Appointed by Mayor John Evans to the Garden City Arts Commission |
2005 |
siting artist for elementary children at Adams School, Boise School District |
2004 |
Juror for Statewide Voices and Visions Exhibition, Boise State University |
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Co-founded Visual Arts Committee at the Boise City Arts Commission |
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Reappointed by Mayor Carolyn Terteling Payne to the Boise City Arts Commission |
2003-05 |
Originated project and instructed Teen Art Lab for at-risk kids for the Boise Art Museum |
2003 |
Set designer, Stop Kiss, Boise Contemporary Theater |
2002-05 |
Art mentor, Work and Learn Programs, Boise School District |
2002 |
Art in the Schools mentor, YMCA program for Kids at risk, Franklin School |
1994-04 |
Juror - Numerous public works projects, Boise City Arts Commission |
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Selected-Idaho Artist in Education Residency, Idaho Commission on the Arts |
1994-03 |
Appointed, by Mayor Brent Coles to the Boise City Arts Commission |
1991 |
Guest speaker on Art Breaking, WBAI Radio |
1983-90 |
Board of Directors of Boise Art Museum |
1974-91 |
Illustrated lecture of personal artworks, Boise Art Museum |