Jo Carol Mitchell-Rogers
With this ongoing body of work, I am interested in suggesting open-ended narratives for the viewer to participate in the construction of meaning. I utilize vintage photos and other unusual imagery as source material. These moments from the lives of strangers have always intrigued me. Their silent stories captivate me. By appropriating their images and suggesting possible narratives, new stories can emerge.I manipulate the scenarios in a number of different ways: combining images, altering the physical and emotional relationships among the figures, and creating alternative contexts. Color plays a pivotal role in the emotional and visual impact of the work. Several recurring themes appear throughout the series. Sometimes the work is playful or nostalgic or, at times, ambiguous and unsettling. I also find myself drawn to capturing moments or liberation or escape.
Closer Than They Appear - acrylic, graphite - 16x20 - NFS
About Jo Carol Mitchell-Rogers
Jo Carol Mitchell-Rogers is a Professor of Art and serves as the Associate Dean for the SC School of the Arts at Anderson University. She served as the Chair of the Department of Art + Design from 1998 – 2019, and as the Director of Art Education from 1996 – 2016. Mitchell-Rogers earned a BFA in Painting & Drawing from the University of Georgia and the MFA, also in Painting & Drawing, from Clemson University. Like many teaching artists, Jo Carol is a perpetual student, later earning a PhD in Art Education from the University of Georgia.
She has been recognized on campus and in the state for her teaching excellence as the recipient of the Boles Award for Excellence in Teaching, the Governor’s Distinguished Professor Citation (twice), and as the SC Art Education Association Higher Education Art Educator of the Year (on two occasions). A member of the Artbomb Studios in Greenville, SC, Jo Carol maintains an active exhibition record as a painter, mixed media artist, and photographer. Her work has been included in over 200 invitational solo and group exhibitions, over 75 juried shows, and is included in numerous private collections throughout the country and abroad. Recent notable exhibitions include the Museum of Design Atlanta and the SVA Chelsea Gallery in NYC.