About Jeff
Since 1988 Jeff Mitchell has worked as an artist, teacher and musician
in Kalamazoo. His photographs have been exhibited throughout the
West Michigan area in both solo and juried group exhibitions. Solo
shows include: Greater Kalamazoo Arts Council Gallery,
the Carnegie Center for the Arts, the Kingscott
Gallery , Cosmo's Cucina (three times) and the SmartshoP. The Kingscott exhibit was selected by
the Kalamazoo Gazette as one of the six top art shows of 1998. Juried
group shows include: Ann Arbor Art Center All Media Exhibition,
the Michigan Artists Competition at the Art
Center of Battle Creek , the Regional Juried Photo Competition at the Carnegie
Center for the Arts (four times), the Paw Paw Area Show, the All Michigan/All Media Show at the Krasl Art Center
, the Focus Photography Show at the Art Center of Battle
Creek (two times), and the West Michigan Area Show (four times).
Awards and grants include: the Gilmore Emerging Artist Grant, the Upjohn Community Arts Grant , the KIA Collector's Award
for a Print Image and the First National Bank
Award (Paw Paw Area Show). The Emerging Artist Grant was used
to support study with Keith Carter at the Santa Fe Photographic
Workshops and the Community Arts Grant funded a photo essay of Kalamazoo's
Blanche Hull Preserve. Published photos include the covers of American
Organist and Michigan Today.
Following the receipt of the Bachelor of Music degree from Western
Michigan University in 1974, Jeff took his first professional position
as a band director in the Lakeview Community Schools, he then returned
to WMU in 1978 to pursue a Master of Arts in counseling psychology.
In 1982 he took a job as a therapist with the Van Buren County Drug
and Alcohol program and then to Borgess' Midwest Recovery program
in 1985. In 1988 Jeff decided to pursue multiple careers as an artist,
free lance photographer and private music (piano) instructor. Commercial
photo work includes a variety of clients including many architectural
firms, numerous wedding and portrait commissions. His private piano
studio continues with an average of 15 students. Other teaching
venues have been the Kalamazoo Institute of Arts (photography) since
1992 and Kalamazoo Valley Community College (music and photography)
since 1995.
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