Born: November 25, 1941
Residence: Santa Monica, CA
Phone/Fax: (310) 396-4712, e-mail: artmortimer@earthlink.net
Education: Occidental College, Eagle Rock CA, 1959-1963, B.A.
•MURALS, PUBLlC (since 1980):
Homage to Picasso? Three Musicians: acrylic, 16x19’, July 2000, Santa Monica CA (my interpretation of Picasso’s famous painting, on a wall overlooking the parking lot of a recording studio).
Claremont Village Mural: acrylic, 18 x 84’, June 2000, Claremont CA (a trompe l’oeil facade of architecture adapted from buildings on the campus of the Claremont Colleges overlaid with a montage of historical images and a view through an archway of the Claremont train depot).
Lompoc’s Great Floral Flag: acrylic, 12.5x42’, Aug. 1999, Lompoc, CA (a Mural-In-A-Day project, designed and laid out by me and painted entirely in one day by myself and a group of volunteer artists).
Main Street, Santa Paula: 18x71’, acrylic, Nov. 1998, Santa Paula CA (a large scene of downtown Santa Paula in 1910 inside a trompe l’oeil archway, with a montage of other historical images arranged along the wall next to the arch.
Flash Flood: 13x61', acrylic, June 1998, in Twentynine Palms CA (a collage of historical and contemporary images showing the flooding of this desert community during thunderstorms before the existing flood control channel was constructed).
Santa Monica Beach Mural: 47xl50', acrylic, Feb. 1998, in Santa Monica, CA (a montage of contemporary and historical scenes of life on the beach in Santa Monica on the outer wall of a 4-story public parking structure).
Long Beach Police Athletic League Building: 16x91', acrylic, July 1997, in Long Beach CA (a faux architecture facade to enhance a plain, unaesthetic building; including painted windows with candid portraits of children who attend the center and the facility's director).
South Park Mural: 10x160', acrylic, Sept. 1996, in South Park, Billings Montana (a long collage of images of life and history in Billings Montana, linked by ribbons and architectural motifs).
Villa Alamitos: approx. 27xll9', acrylic, Dec. 1995, corner 7th & Alamitos, Long Beach CA (an illusion of elaborate faux Latin American architecture, trees & landscaping painted on 3 sides of a plain bldg.).
A History of West Long Beach: 10x48', acrylic, Aug. 1994, Long Beach CA (a montage of sepia-toned historical images of life in West Long Beach flanking a large color image of the area as it is today).
Mural-ln-A-Day. Scenes of Old Downtown Lompoc: 12x48', acrylic, October 1993, Lompoc CA (a montage of sepia-toned historical scenes in a mural designed and laid out by myself and painted in entirely in one day by a group of volunteer artists under my direction).
Mr. Eastman: 12x22', acrylic, July 1993, in Susanville, CA (a montage of 2 images of a noted local photographer who recorded much of the area's history).
History of Cattle Ranching In Lasses County: 12x64', acrylic, July 1992, corner of OOP and Main SSTs. in Susanville CA (a nostalgic-looking montage of images depicting scenes of cattle ranching in Lasses County).
Century City–Past Present & Future: 16x36', acrylic, Sept. l99l, 1875-1925 Century Park East, Los Angeles CA (A montage of images of Century City, in the lobby of a high-rise office bldg.)
History of La Cienega Blvd.: 10x40', acrylic, May 1991, 538-540 N. La Cienega Bl., Los Angeles, CA (A montage of images painted from historical photos).
Wish You Were Here: 14'10" x 20'6", acrylic, Aug. 1990, Sepulveda Bl. at Nordhoff, Los Angeles CA. Sponsored by Social and Public Arts Resource Center, Venice CA (a large picture postcard depicting the intersection next to the mural).
History of the Flower Seed Industry: 12x53', acrylic, Jan. 1990, Lompoc CA (a montage of historical and contemporary photos depicting the Flower Seed Industry).
The 12 Californias: 35x138', enamel, April 1989, Bloomingdale's Department Store, 1000 3rd Ave., New York City (a promotion for the State of California).
Scenes of Paris: 2 murals–one of Place de la Concorde (7x31'), one of the River Seine (7x27'), acrylic, Dec. 1988, in Abe & Jerry's Delicatessen, 3530 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles, CA.
Fantasy on Capability Brown, in Mason's Restaurant: 41x5', acrylic, Feb. 1988, Brentwood, Los Angeles, CA (a landscape of the English countryside).
Fairfax Community Mural, A History of the Jewish Community in Los Angeles: 12x 110', acrylic, Sept. 1985, Los Angeles, CA (a montage of historical photos).
Stratton's Grill Restaurant Facade: 14x94', acrylic on red brick, Feb. 1984, Westwood Village, Los Angeles, CA. (a trompe l'oeil architectural facade).
Ocean Park Historical Postcards: 3 panels approx. 8x25' ea., acrylic, June 1980, Santa Monica, CA (paintings of old hand-tinted photos).
•MURALS, PRIVATE (since 1980):
5 Fruits and Vegetables: 5 panels, each 10x5’, acrylic, Jan. 2000, for Gelson’s Market, West Hollywood CA (5 brilliantly colored panels in the style of antique fruit crate labels, installed permanently in niches on the exterior of the store).
Mountain View Golf Course: 10x52’, acrylic, July 1999, inside the clubhouse at Mountain View Golf Course, Santa Paula CA ( 2 large aerial views of 2 of the holes on the golf course, with 2 small inset rectangular painting of people playing golf, one for each hole.
An English Garden: approx 10x68’, acrylic, June 1999, in a private residence in Westchester, Los Angeles CA (a painted scene of an English garden with a grotto, plants, trees & flowers in a back yard: on 3 sides of the inside of an open-front pool cabaña and on the side of the garage).
Undersea Window: 6x6', acrylic, May 1997, in a private residence, Santa Monica CA (an undersea scene of tropical fish swimming along a colorful underwater reef, painted to look like the view out through a large undersea porthole).
Comic Book Superheroes: a series of 7 images (each about 10x10') of famous comic book characters on the walls and ceiling of the playhouse on a private estate in Bel Air, Los Angeles CA, Feb. 1997.
The American Dream: 14x33', acrylic, Nov. 1996, Simi Valley CA (in the corporate office of Countrywide Home Loans Co., a panorama of a neighborhood street inset with a series of vignettes illustrating the joys of home ownership).
Starbucks Coffee stores; A series of acrylic murals of varying sizes in several Starbucks coffee stores in the Los Angeles area; also San Diego CA, San Antonio TX and Vancouver BC, 1994-95.
A View of Palmyra: 9x20', acrylic, June 1994, in a private residence in Malibu CA (a delicate monochrome painting of the ancient ruined city of Palmyra seen through painted archways on the wall in the master bedroom).
A History of Visual Effects in Hollywood: 6xl3', acrylic, May 1994 in the offices of Eastman Kodak in Hollywood, CA (a collage of images, each painted to look like it is in a computer 'window', depicting the historical development of visual effects techniques in the context of the city of Hollywood and today's computer technology).
Malibu Windows: 3 arched alcoves approx. 3-1/2 x 6', acrylic, Dec. 1993, in a private residence in Malibu, CA (3 arched alcoves along a stairway are painted in a trompe 1'oeil style to look like windows, with a cloudy sky and treetops seen outside).
A Trip Across The United States: 2 walls approx 9-1/2 x 72', enamels, Sept. 1993, St. Paul the Apostle Catholic School, Westwood, Los Angeles CA (a long hallway in a classroom building is painted on both sides from end to end with scenes stretching from Washington D.C. to Los Angeles).
Malibu Mountains: 12x14', acrylic, May 1993, in a private residence in Malibu CA (a trompe l'oeil view of the Malibu mountains through a painted arched doorway and windows).
Grapevines: 3xlO', acrylic, Dec. 1992, in Drago Restaurant in Santa Monica, CA (an impressionistic view from inside a grapevine looking out between the leaves).
Bailiwick's Sports Mural: 9x18', acrylic, Nov. 1992, in a sports-themed restaurant in Loma Linda CA. (a montage of people engaged in a variety of sports activities).
Wellness Mural: 9x28', acrylic on drywall and wood, May, 1992, in the corporate offices of HealthNet HMO in Woodland Hills, CA (a montage of scenes of people involved in healthy activities).
Seal Beach, California: 9x24', acrylic on canvas, Feb. 1992, in the corporate offices of Rockwell International in Seal Beach, CA (a montage of scenes of life and history in Seal Beach).
Foxhunting Scene: 5x19', acrylic, Oct. 1990, in a private residence in Brentwood, Los Angeles CA (a traditional foxhunting scene based on old prints and paintings).
Senior Citizens: 8 portraits, each approx. 7' high, June 1990, of members of the OASIS Senior Center, 6067 Wilshire Bl., Los Angeles CA, in the hallway leading to the center.
Sunday In the Park: 10x36', acrylic, Oct. 1989, in the offices of a corporation, Santa Fe Springs, CA (a series of portraits of typical workers on their day off).
Palisades Park View: 52x118", acrylic, Aug. 1989, in a private residence in Westwood, Los Angeles CA.
Two Cherubs–Fame: 45x52", acrylic, Dec. 1988, in a private residence in Beverly Hills, CA.
Homage á Boucher: 42x55", acrylic, Nov. 1988, in a private residence in Beverly Hills CA.
Romance–An Homage to Maxfield Parrish: 5'3"x13'4", acrylic, Sept. 1988, in a private residence in Beverly Hills CA (my interpretation of a Parrish landscape).
Underwater Mural in Bathroom: painted on all walls & ceiling of bathroom, acrylic, Nov. 1980, Marina Del Rey CA (bathroom walls painted to make it appear to be underwater with fish, skindivers, etc.).
•EXHIBITIONS:
Seidman Gallery: Santa Monica CA, one-person show Oct.–Nov. 2000.
Artist Trait Gallery, Claremont CA, since Sept. 2000, ongoing exhibition and sales of my paintings.
Seidman Gallery, Santa Monica CA, one -person show Sept. 1999.
John Nichols Gallery, Santa Paula CA: since March, 1999, ongoing exhibition and sales of my paintings.
Seidman Gallery, Santa Monica CA: since Feb. 1999, ongoing exhibition and sales of my paintings.
Los Angeles County Museum of Art–Rental and Sales Gallery: Feb. 1997–June 1999, exhibition, rental and sales of my work.
Art On The Pier: one-person show of recent paintings on the Santa Monica Pier, Feb.25-Mar. 31, 1995.
Holiday Art Show: Group show at Spring Street Gallery, 333 So. Spring St., Los Angeles CA, Nov. 29-Dec. 23, 1994.
L.A. Rhythms: Group show at Spring Street Gallery, downtown Los Angeles, Sept. 2-Nov. 12, 1994.
Paintings, Drawings, etc., Higher Grounds Gallery, Westwood Village, Los Angeles CA, one-person show, March 4-April 2, 1994.
Art by Artists and Other Faces, an Exhibition of Recent Portraits, Occidental College, Los Angeles CA, group show, Jan. 17-March 18, 1994 (2 pieces in show).
Paintings and Drawings, Recent and Otherwise, A Votre Sante Restaurant, Venice, CA, one-person show of paintings and drawings, Oct,-Nov. 1993.
Grossman Gallery, Lompoc Public Library, Lompoc CA, one-person show of mural-related photos, drawings, etc., and other drawings, paintings and prints, Jan. 1990.
Los Angeles Mural Conservancy Exhibition & Silent Auction (group show), The Art Store Gallery, Los Angeles CA, Nov.-Dec. 1988.
Santa Monica Public Library, Santa Monica CA, Aug. 1979, one person show: Drawings, Lithographs, Mural Concepts & Documentations.
Occidental College, Los Angeles CA, Jan. 1979, one person show: Pencil Drawings and Mural Concepts & Documentations.
•BOOKS Featuring Murals include (since 1980):
California Art–450 Years of Painting & Other Media: by Nancy Dustin Wall Moure, Dustin Publications, 1998. Includes Fairfax Community Mural (illust.).
Painting The Towns, Murals of California: RJD Enterprises, 1997. Features History of Cattle Ranching in Lassen County, History of the Flower Seed Industry, and The Fairfax Community Mural (all illust.).
Los Angeles Murals, a book of postcards, RJD Enterprises, 1995. Includes Brandelli's Brig.
Street Gallery: Robin J. Dunitz, RJD Enterprises, 1993. Includes John Forrester, Brandelli's Brig, Stratton's Grill, Ocean Park Historical Postcards, United Skates of America, Fairfax Community Mural, Paris Scenes, Wish You Were Here, Senior Citizens, History of La Cienega Blvd., and Century City–Past, Present and Future.
The Big Picture: Melba Levick & Stanley Young, Little, Brown & Co. 1988. Includes Fairfax Community Mural, Brandelli's Brig, and Roller Skates of America.
Wall Art: Stefan & Betty Merken, Running Press l987. Includes Brandelli's Brig, Ocean Park Historical Postcards.
Street Murals: by Volker Barthelmeh, Alfred A. Knopf 1982 USA, Kiepenheuer & Witsch 1982 Europe. Includes Lynn Carey.
Community Murals: by Alan W. Barnett, Associated University Presses 1984. Includes Rosie and Venice High School Class of '54.
•OTHER MEDIA:
Murals have been featured in many magazine and newspaper articles and on several television programs around this country and abroad, and have served as backdrops in countless movies and TV shows. The June 1990 issue of House and Garden Magazine featured two murals I painted in the home of singer Belinda Carlisle and producer Morgan Mason (son of actor James Mason). Many times my mural projects have been featured on local television news, showing the murals in progress and their dedications when finished.
•FILMS & VIDEO:
Huell Howser’s California’s Gold: Oct. 1999, an entire episode of this program on KCET and other Public Broadcasting TV stations was devoted to my mural-in-a-day project, “Lompoc’s Great Floral Flag” in Lompoc CA.
Dreams and Visions: 1986, video documentary on the creation of the Fairfax Community Mural, produced by the Youth Dept. of the Jewish Federation of Los Angeles.
Mur Murs: by Agnes Varda, 1982, a documentary film on the murals of Los Angeles. Two interviews and several of my murals were featured. Released theatrically & shown on television in Europe. Shown theatrically in limited engagements in the USA. Recently shown in a 1997 American Cinematheque retrospective of Ms.Varda's work in Los Angeles, CA.
City Canvass. by Steve Lomas, 1976, a documentary film on several Los Angeles muralists. Shown at Filmex 1977.
•AWARDS:
1996 Design Award. for Villa Alamitos mural, "Neighborhood Designs That Work–Building A Better Long Beach–Trompe l'Oeil Mural Project," Long Beach, CA Department of Building and Planning.
“Bright N' Beautiful” Award: for South Park Mural, Billings, Montana: one of the top ten civic beautification projects in Billings in 1996.
•INSTRUCTION:
Loyola Marymount University, Los Angeles CA: part-time faculty (ongoing since 1998), a variety of painting classes including Mural Painting, Life Painting, and Advanced Painting.
Lassen Community College, Summer 1993, Susanville CA. Taught a summer school class at the College, and the class painted a mural on an exterior wall in the town as part of the town's ongoing mural project (see Mr. Eastman mural under Public Murals).
Academy of Performing and Visual Arts. 1990, Los Angeles, CA. Teaching a murals class for high school students. Class project: a series of murals in a senior citizens center.
Mural Workshops, 1990, Lompoc CA. 2 workshops for the Lompoc Valley Art Association on the theory and practice of mural painting.
Academy of Performing and Visual Arts, 1989, Los Angeles CA. Taught a class for high school students at Verdugo Hills High school in Mural painting, working with art instructors at the school.
•MEMBERSHIPS:
Vice President, Board of Directors of The Mural Conservancy of Los Angeles.
National Society of Mural Painters.