Kathleen Mitchell

Kathleen Mitchell was born in Jacksonville, North Carolina (1958) into a family that relocated frequently during her first 9 years. A
lifelong maker of art, it has been said that her stegosaurus sculpture at the age of 6 was the best piece of pinched clay in all
of Northeastern Pennsylvania.

In 1967 her family settled in the multi-cultural city of San Diego,California. Here, she blended her proud Celtic heritage with a love
of Mexican folk art. Both appear frequently in her work, much of which is mixed media with blown and cast glass as prominent
components.

This series of vessels is called Artifacts. It starts with a double overlay of opaque and transparent colors. Next the application of
Japanese fine silver foil to create a canvas and finished with glass “stringers” to represent humans making a mark on an object to
signify that “I was here”.

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Artist’s Statement
I make things, I always have. And like many other object makers, I am a collector of things, an assembler, an arranger.
The techniques I employ to make my work are fraught with danger. Molten or sharp; glass and metal can burn you, cut you,
scar you. The physical aspect of working, the sweat, the dance, the communion with your partner or your team... it’s earthy and
difficult.

I like that.