I am super stoked right now — I just found out my photography has been accepted for participation for Photolucida’s “THEN. NOW. HERE.” which is a month long slideshow held each year for Portland’s Photo Month! Yes!! This will be my third year showing.
Event Details
Join me for the Portland Photo Month slideshow opening event at the Oregon Historical Society on Wednesday, April 16th 7-9pm. It should be a great night – there will be live music and tasty food and drink! OHS will also have their Ansel Adams exhibit open for us that night, for a special viewing. Bring a friend – or a few friends!
And congratulations also to Audrey Bell, Jason DeSomer, Chris Alo, Julie Savage Lee, Brandon Sorg and Mike Moreali!!
The slideshow will also be screened in the front window of Blue Sky Gallery during the month of April.
About the Show
Love Oregon? Photolucida presents Then. Now. Here. a slideshow celebration of Oregon – its people, its landscape, its unique character and special history. Curated by Laura Moya and Laura Valenti Jelen, the slideshow includes images by contemporary photographers paired with historical images of the beautiful state we call home. The slideshow will be presented at a gala event at the Oregon Historical Society on April 16th and will run in a continuous loop in the front window of Blue Sky Gallery throughout the month of April. [www.thennowhere.org]
My locally collected body of work titled, View Point Portland: From Dusk Till Dawn, features my favorite open spaces and cityscapes of Portland, Oregon taken between 2010 and 2012, and has been exhibited at two U.S. Bank locations in downtown Portland, Oregon during the months of February and July of 2013. Locations: 1040 NW Lovejoy St, Portland, OR 97209 and 1001 Northwest 23rd Avenue, Portland, OR 97210.
The next gallery exhibition will be shown at the Allstate Insurance Stewart Office in The Hollywood District during the month of March 2014. Location: 4421 NE Sandy Blvd., Portland, Oregon 97213.
View Point Portland: From Dusk ‘til Dawn
Erica J Mitchell
(American, 1984)
Artist Statement
As a photojournalist, one of my favorite things to do is to document everyday images and happenings here in our home town that are beautiful or meaningful, however often overlooked on our day to day journeys.
This series began simply as my documentation of my move into downtown Portland, but has blossomed into so much more. I hope you find that these images speak loudly of arrival and exploration. They show my transition; beginning in the outskirts of the metro area, then growing increasingly warming and familiar as my adventure draws me into the heart of this incomparable city.
I want each image to evoke inspiration; a particular emotion ensuring that any individual piece has the power to stand on it’s own, but also has it’s place in this storytelling series of prints.
To inquire about print purchasing please contact ericajmitchell@gmail.com or to purchase a 16 x 20″ archival print using Paypal use the buy now button below.
I was selected to participate in the group exhibition IMPLUSE! at the Steven Goldman Gallery. Reception with all the artists is tonight from 6-8pm and the prints will be available for viewing until September 30th, 2013.
Title: TOY CHEST
May 2013 — Monterey, CA
Artist Statement
While documenting the removal and restructuring of my grandfather’s estate for artistic therapy to help cope with the loss I took the following portrait of my much younger sister. Sitting alone in a room that will never be filled with the same presence, physically or spiritually she did what I had so many times at her age years ago; explored the hidden treasures of a toy chest. It made me reflect on the circular nature of life. I was able to reconnect with myself through her actions and ponder on the sameness of it. My moment of reflection revived the moment of past, made it fresh, and made the unfamiliar refamiliar. All at once the past, present and future combined as a reminder that our connections are not with people, places or things but are instead with passions, perceptions and thoughts.
Extra Extra!! I’m thrilled to announce I have a new exhibition for September!
I have been selected to show a print in a group exhibition at the Art Institute of Portland’s 2nd annual juried student photography show starting September 5th, 2013 in The Steve Goldman Gallery.
The theme Impulse created a channel for me curate my photographs in a different way. The photograph chosen is of my sister exploring a suitcase filled with toys in my deceased uncles completely emptied childhood room in my Papa’s house after he passed in March of this year. This suitcase was used by my Papa in the late 60’s and had been filled with my mine and my mother’s childhood toys. My sister gave me a moment of reflection to lives before her and for that I am grateful. Please join me September 5th from 6-8pm for a First Thursday Event and view in 20 photographs the Impulse.
My newest 12 piece photography project Sky: Perspective Changing is on display at the U.S. Bank Pearl District Branch in downtown Portland for the month of August 2013. Sky: Perspective Changing, showcases the first developments and inspirations of what I capture once I unplugged and tuned-in to my daily environment. Location: 1040 NW Lovejoy St, Portland, OR 97209.
Sky: Perspective Changing is an Erica J Mitchell series where she asks the viewer to look into the sky for hidden beauty. People often look into the sky for objects, but rarely take the time to observe it for it’s pure artistic integrity. The images found here remind the viewer that the open expanse of a cityscape can itself be a canvas, where clouds paint their reflections on windows, buildings offer symmetrical breaks in the wild formations of aerial spacing, and man-made items like power lines and chemical emissions add their own evocative layers to an otherwise natural canvas. Enjoy these pictures from a wildly different perspective!
To inquire about print purchasing please contact ericajmitchell@gmail.com.
A poem written about my exhibition Sky: Perspective Changing
It’s easy to look down,
Natural in shape and form, following the curvature of our spine,
This is who we are, how we are designed,
We bend and bow to those above, and follow, so as not to be left behind… LOOK UP
It’s easy to look down,
Following the footsteps of those who have passed before,
Attempting to reach an already open door,
Wishing not pursuing but wondering still if we can offer more… LOOK UP
I’ll press myself above,
By keeping my focus on the things out in the sky,
The shapes, colors, and patterns that sit atop my world on high,
The dreams and scenes of in betweens that become a distant savior’s lullaby LOOK UP
I’ll pull your eyes above,
Share with you the things that inspire me,
To pursue the things that others think can truly never be,
To teach the world that in the expanse above is where our minds are truly free!
By EA Brown
More details
http://ericajmitchell.wordpress.com/2013/07/30/two-exhibitions-for-august/
Starting August 1st, Pro Photo Supply will be displaying selected works from a community event, Portland Squared, created by Leah Nash, an ASMP member. I am proud to showcase my work along side the other photographers from the Portland photography community.
Cheers!
Selected work for Portland Squared Gallery Show:
Text from asmpchapter_news@asmp.org
WHAT: First Thursday Reception: Portland Squared
WHEN: August 1st, 2013, 6pm – 8pm
WHERE: PRO PHOTO SUPPLY, 1112 NW 19th Ave., Portland
On May 17 and 18, more than 70 photographers converged on Portland for a 24 hour period to document a randomly assigned portion of four square miles. They used planes, cars, boats, and their own two feet as they captured our city from every possible angle. This gallery show displays the work and creativity that went into documenting the people, architecture and landscape of downtown Portland on that day.
All photography enthusiasts are invited to an opening reception, which will be held during First Thursday in the Wide Format gallery at Pro Photo Supply Thursday, August 1st, from 6pm-8pm. Snacks and beverages will be provided!
