August 2013

Burke Arts Council in Morganton, NC, Features Works by Dean Mitchell

The Burke Arts Council in Morganton, NC, will present Traces of Humanity, featuring works by accomplished artist, Dean Mitchell of Tampa, FL, on view in the Jail House Gallery, from Aug. 7 through Sept. 13, 2013. A reception will take place on Aug. 9, from 5-7pm and on Aug. 10, at 10:30am a continental breakfast and Gallery Talk will be offered. Call to reserve your spot.

Mitchell is internationally known for his watercolor paintings, landscapes, portraits, and still lifes. He has been featured in numerous publications, corporate and museum collections across the country, and has received countless awards nationally and internationally. Mitchell was called a “virtual modern-day Vermeer” by New York Times art critic Michael Kimmelman. He has been compared to Vermeer, Wyeth, Homer and Hopper, and is recognized and revered by his peers as one of the most important artists of our time. Mitchell’s work ranges from portrayals of the African-American community, to cityscapes and landscapes of the American South and West. 

The collection contains over thirty original works including watercolors, oils, acrylics, sketches, and etchings that will document the artist’s 33 year-long career.

Mitchell is a graduate of the Columbus College of Art & Design in Columbus, OH. In addition to watercolors, he is accomplished in other mediums, including egg temperas, oils and pastels. His art can be found in corporate and museum collections across the country, including: Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, Kansas City, Missouri; Mississippi Museum of Art, Jackson, Mississippi; Saint Louis Art Museum, Saint Louis, Missouri; Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art, Kansas City, Missouri; Nerman Museum of Contemporary Art, Kansas City, Missouri; Beach Museum of Art, Manhattan, Kansas; The Autry National Center, Los Angeles; The Arkansas Art Center, Little Rock, Arkansas; Gadsden Art Center Quincy, Florida; Canton Museum of Art, Canton, Ohio and the Library of Congress.

Mitchell has received the American Watercolor Society Gold Medal, Allied Artist of American Gold Medal in Watercolor and Oil, Thomas Moran Award from the Salmagundi Club in New York, Remington Professional League, and for three years in a row the Best in Show Award from the Mississippi Watercolor Society Grand National Competition. In 2004 and 2007, he received the Autry National Center Award for Watercolor at the Masters of the American West Fine Art Exhibition and sale. Mitchell is a member of several professional societies, including the American Watercolor Society and the National Watercolor Society.

Pete Lupo, wildlife artist and woodcarver of Lenoir, NC, will also grace the gallery with his amazing realistic wood carvings. Lupo is more than a wood carver; he’s a true artist and sculptor of life. His connection to nature and the lessons learned from the animals and plants is reflected in all of his work.

The mission of the Burke Arts Council is to enrich the quality of life in Burke County through cultural and artistic activities. We seek to coordinate arts activities in the community, serve as an informational and resource center for the arts and to promote local artists and arts organizations.

For further information check our NC Institutional Gallery listings, call the Council at 828/433-7282 or visit (www.burkearts.org).

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