Statement
Most of my painting is completed on location. I search for the extra-ordinary in subject material. It maybe a landscape or a portrait of a person I find interesting, or would like to understand. Much of my work is painted in the arid inland regions of Australia such as the Northern Flinders Ranges, Lake Eyre in South Australia. I look for the excitement of intense light, mood and the dramatic sculptural land forms in the landscape. It may appear as a hard horizon line broken by distant vegetation, a craggy rugged granite outcrop or in the detail of a stony gibber plain, a crisp salt pan or a foggy night. In contrast the melancholic beauty of a landscape reflected in a black waterhole, mist rising from the stillness of an early morning tidal river, or a pond with an unbroken surface.
And then there is the Antarctic. To travel to the Antarctic on a working cargo ship is a painting trip of a lifetime. The images I have brought back in photography and painting were barely enough to capture the merest glimpse of this awesome place. I have much more work to do before I feel I have come anywhere near to understanding the experience.
Jenni has held numerous exhibitions throughout Australia, and has been included in many group exhibitions. Her works are represented in public and private collections in Australia, and overseas, including USA, UK. and Japan.
2012 Invitation exhibition History Museum Ulan Bator Mongolia
2010 From The Edge, Norway and Mongolia works Barn Gallery Montsalvat
2007 Gateway Galleries
2007 Invitation Nillumbik Art Awards
2007 Desert Notes, Meeniyan,
2006 Desert Sharing, with Mervyn Hannan and Togsoyun Sain – Montsalvat
2005 Desert, Ice and Poetry – Montsalvat
2005 Arctic Sketches – Kapitan Klebnikov – Canada High Arctic @ Sea
2005 Images of the Antarctic – Dickerson Gallery, Melbourne
2005 Imaging The Antarctic – Hamilton Regional Gallery
2004 Parliament House, Canberra – Antarctic paintings
2003 Open Studio – Nillumbik Shire Eltham
2003 Parliament House, Canberra (group with Aust. Antarctic Division)
2003 Saddlers Court Gallery , Richmond Tasmania
2003 To The Ice: Images from the Antarctic – Barn & Long Galleries Montsalvat
2003 Open Studio – Nillumbik Shire
2002 MasterWorks – Montsalvat & Eltham College
2002 Nillumbik Shire – Foyer Exhibition
2002 Open Studio – Nillumbik
2002 Fields Apart – Sand, Salt & Seed, Adam Galleries Melbourne
2002 Open Studio – Art, Caught in the Act Nillumbik Arts Festival
2002 Evelyn Estate Gallery, Kangaroo Ground
2002 Hamilton Regional Art Gallery – Portrait of the McDonald Brothers
2002 Curate ‘Capture’ for Shire of Nillumbik Major Exhibition + essay
2001 Open Studio – Nillumbik Shire
2001 Montsalvat Poets Festival – portrait Adrian Rawlins
2001 Ian Potter Gallery – Melb. Uni. Collection of Writers portraits – poets portraits
2000 Aust. National Portrait Gallery Canberra – loan A. D. Hope portrait
2000 Aust. National University – photographs & portraits of the poet A.D. Hope
2000 Montsalvat – figuratively – group curator Shane Pugh
2000 Victorians – Portraits of Extraordinary People Queens Hall, Parliament House VIC
1999 Montsalvat National Poetry Festival
1999 The Victorian Law Institute
1999 Reflections Shoalhaven – Adam Galleries Melbourne – (opened Mrs. Lorraine Elliott)
1999 Mains Restaurant & Conference Centre Eltham – ( opened Peter Brock)
1998 Eltham Wiregrass Gallery – Landscape Exhibition (Group)
1998 Open Studio – Eltham
1998 La Trobe University Gallery – Poets Portraits
1998 Horizons & Spaces – Robert Steel Gallery – Adelaide SA – (opened Tom Shapcott)
1998 Tanah Merah – Liza Taylor Sculpture Garden Mt. Macedon (Bronze Sculpture)
1997 Woodbyne Gallery – Berry NSW – (opened Chris Mansell)
1997 Opera in the Outback – Flinders Ranges S.A
1997 The Mains – Conference Centre Eltham – ( opened Shire President Robert Marshall)
1997 The Shed – Horsham Regional Gallery
1997 Griffith Regional Gallery exhibition
1997 Selected Poets Portraits – Victorian Writers Centre
1996 The Corporate Show – Eltham Wiregrass Gallery (group show)
1996 Horizon Line – Eltham Community Centre – Nillumbik Shire Council
1995 Armadale University – Armadale NSW
1995 1975-95 Survey Exhibition – Dempster’s Gallery Canterbury – (opened Judith Rodriguez)
1995 From the Brilliance of the Day to the Mystery of the Night – Horsham Regional
1994 25 Years of Eltham Gallery
1993 Swanston Walk Gallery – Melbourne
1993 Montsalvat National Poets Festival – Poets portraits
1993 Mt Macedon Bushfire paintings – Mt Macedon Fire Station -Vic.
1992 Ten Poets Portraits tour Tasmania from Queen Vic Museum for six months
1992 Montsalvat National Poets Festival – Poets Portraits
1991 Inland Journeys – Eltham Gallery – (opened Jim Kennan ALP Leader)
1990 Three Views of the Landscape – York St. Gallery
1989 Into Shadow – York St. Gallery -Fitzroy
1989-90 Poets Portraits – 1 year loan to Victorian Writers Centre
1988 Sand Salt & Stone – Wallace Bros Gallery – Castlemaine
1988 The Desert and the Sea – Eltham
1987 After the firestorm – Mt. Macedon (opened John Olsen)
1986 The Poet and the Painter – Eltham
1985 Lavender Bay and Other Paintings – Sturt & Nolan Gallery –
1985 From Tibooburra to Lake Eyre – Ross House Gallery – (opened Vic O’Connor)
1984 Wimmera Paintings – Eltham
• Transitions – Gallery 21- (opened Alistair Knox)
Nillumbik Art Awards, Salon deRefuse Montsalvat, Diamond Valley Art Awards, Eltham Art
Awards, Box Hill Art Awards, Mountbatten Art Award, Varuna Fellowship, Tas. Writers
Centre residency, Alan Marshall Short Story Award – commended, Mt. Buller Award, Eltham
Art Awards, Australian Antarctic Division – Parliament House Canberra ,
Work held in Public, Municipal & Corporate Collections
Bundanon Trust, Griffith Gallery NSW, University of New England, Horsham Regional
Gallery, Nillumbik Shire (Shire of Eltham), City of Echuca, Anti-Cancer Council of
Victoria, Tottenham Hot Spurs Football Club – UK., Eltham High School, Vaucluse Hospital,
Zuellig Insurance Brokers Australia, Australian Antarctic Division, Tas.
2005 ABC STATELINE – Ice Artist and Exhibition at Dickerson Gallery
2003 ABC Poetica – interview about Poets Portraits & mention Antarctica
2003 Radio interview 3RRR
2003 Radio interview Plenty Valley
2002 Australian Artist – The Little Desert feature
2002 Thylazine – An electronic Journal of Aust Literature – The McDonald Brothers & Digby
2002 ABC Australian Story – McDonalds Brothers (repeat)
2001 ABC Radio National – interview ‘Painting the Poets’ (July)
2001 ABC Australian Story – McDonald Brothers
2001 Channel 7 TV – Artist Workshop at Museum Modern Art, Montsalvat, & Panton Hill
2000 Thylazine – An electronic Journal of Aust Literature – essay on landscape and portraits
1999 Web Site – http://jennimitchell.alphalink.com.au
Carmel Bird web site – Jenni and the Poets’
1999 Plenty Valley Radio – interview
1998 ABC radio – interview Mark O’Connor Encounter ‘Friendship with the Poet A.D. Hope’
1998 ABC Snapshot – Horizon & Spaces – Robert Steel Gallery S .A. June
1997 Opera in the outback painting featured Adelaide TV
1993 ABC True Stories – John Olsen -Journey Through You Beaut Country
1987 BBC production documentary on Ash Wednesday
Ian Toohill – documentary film across Lake Eyre in Flood
2007 Delinquent Angel – mention in book & photograph published of Shelton Lea
The Age, ‘Poles Apart’ journey to the Arctic
The Age, Antarctic Paintings reproduce
The Australian Newspaper, Antarctic Painting reproduction
The Ice and the Inland (Photographic) – MUP Brigid Hains
Open Studio essay – The Age
The McDonald Brothers – The Age Sunday Life colour magazine
Photo A. D. Hope – Southerly magazine – Sydney University
Contributions – Covers/illustrations: Books and Collections of Poetry
Flank – author photograph for Ian McBride
Courage To Care – Presuna Reddy and Susanne Blaxandall 1993 (cover & inside drawings)
The Love Poems – Shelton Lea 1993 (cover & inside drawings)
Aspect – Art & Literature magazine
Fling Poetry – poetry magazine
Compass Poetry poetry & literature magazine
Dumb Music – by Michael Witts
Head Heart & Stone – Chris Mansell
Eddie Keally from Collingwood – by Phil Motherwell
The Desert and the Sea – essay on Jenni Mitchell by Cornelis Vleeskens
The Lake Eyre Drawings – with poetry by Cornelis Vleeskens
Blowing out the Candles – Collective Effort Press
The Phoenix Review – A.N.U. press poetry & literature magazine
Hear the Siren – Sido Hilverda – 50 Years of the Panton Hill Fire Brigade
2007 Australian newspaper – portrait of Shelton Lea
2007 Australian newspaper – portrait of A. D. Hope
2005 Diamond Valley News – Antarctic Exhibition – Dickerson Gallery
2005 The Age Newspaper – Antarctic Exhibition – Dickerson Gallery
2005 Valley Weekly – Antarctic Exhibition – Dickerson Gallery
2005 Diamond Valley News – Antarctic Exhibition – Hamilton Regional Gallery
2004 Diamond Valley News – Alan Martin Exhibition + Pic
2004 The Aust. Academy of the Humanities Symposium Portrait & photo Clem Christesen
2004 The Aust. Academy of the Humanities – Photo Clem Christesen
2004 Meanjin Portrait Photograph of the poet Clem Christesen
2004 Meanjin Literary Magazine – A Break in the Ice – article & photographs
2004 MX – Melbourne book review to the Ice
2003/4 International Artist Magazine – Voyage to Antarctic
2003 Diamond Valley New – Antarctica + pic
2003 Mercury – Bird’s-eye view cuts the ice
002 The Ice and the Inland (Photographic) MUP by Brigid Hains
2002 Australia Artist – Feature Article Little Desert & workshop, September
2002 Australian Artist – Profile, Little Desert, August
2002 Polartis publication 0001/0001 poem
2002 Hamilton Spectator – front page McDonald Brothers & portrait at Hamilton Gallery
2001 Earthdance publications – poetry
2001 Diamond Valley news – front page colour pic Alan Marshall Short Story award
2001 Hamilton Spectator – front-page colour pic. McDonald Brothers – June 2
2001 The Great Outdoors – Channel 7 TV – artist workshop
001 Southerly, photo A. D. Hope
2001 Age, Sunday Life Magazine – Story about the McDonald Brothers of Digby
2000 Canberra Times – mention exhibition ANU Alec Hope photo’s & portrait
2000 London Guardian – photo A.D. Hope Portrait – orbituary
2000 Sydney Morning Herald – photo A.D. Hope painting
2000 The Age – photo Judith Wright painting memorial reading
2000 The Age – photo A.D. Hope – obituary
2000 Canberra Times – photo Judith Wright painting
2000 Times July – Panorama feature artic
2000 Canberra Times feature article – Painting by words C. Bantick
2000 Tasmanian Mercury – Christopher Bantick – Poets portraits
2000 The Age – Portraits at Queens Hall
2000 Diamond Valley News – Portraits at Queens Hall
1999 Ulitarra – 15 Gary Catalano essay on John Anderson portrait
999 Diamond Valley News – Paintings from Ash Wednesday
1999 Overland – article on poets portraits by Carmel Bird
1998 The Age – Article with Bill McGrath portrait
1998 The Herald Sun article with Jenni Macklin & portrait
1998 The Herald Sun – article about State election and painting in bush
1999 The Australian Artist – profile exhibition Robert Steel Gallery / July 98
The Australian Artist – profile – Poets Portraits La Trobe University
1998 the Intentional Artist – no 3 feature painting
1998 Diamond Valley News – poets’ portraits to be shown at La Trobe
1998 Diamond Valley News page 1 Portrait of Rob Maclellan sitting for painting
1998 Art Streams Vol 3 no 3 Profile – The Accidental Archive – poet’s portrait
1998 Diamond Valley News – Combatants find common Ground – portrait of Rob Maclellan
1997 Herald Sun Arts & Entertainment p.20 When Poets Head to Them Hills -Alison Barclay
1997 Art Streams Vol 2 no.6 .p4 Opera in the Outback?
1997 Diamond Valley News – Peter Dougherty – The Mains Event p25
1997 Diamond Valley News -article returning from Opera in the outback exhibition
1996 Diamond Valley News – Peter Dougherty review Horizon Line
1996 Diamond Valley News- Natalie Town – Horizon Line 20 Mar
1995 The Armadale Express Nov 3 Earl Page Gallery
1995 Diamond Valley News – review Peter Dougherty Horsham
1995 Horsham Regional Gallery Newsletter Vol 6 no 1 Feb/Mar
1994 Overland – Review Love Poems Shelton Lea & drawings – Judith Rodriguez
1993 Overland – Montsalvat Poetry Festival – Heather Cam
1993 The Age – feature Arts & Entertainment – Mike Daly
1993 Diamond Valley News – Ash Wednesday recovery
1992 The Examiner ( Tasmania ) Poets Portraits
1992 A Buyer’s Guide to Australian Art – Graham Ryles
1991 Artists & Galleries of Australia Max Germanic
1991 Australian Women Artists – Max Germanic
1991 Melbourne Report – Lake Eyre exhibition
1990 The Age – Feature Arts & Entertainment – Mike Daly
1990 Home Directory Magazine
1989 Directory of Australian Artists producing Prints
1988 The Age – Mike Daly – feature article – Saturday Extra
1988 The Age – Good Weekend
1988 Central Vic News & Review Jun 22 p16
1987 New Idea 7/3/87 p25 – Mt Macedon bushfires
1986 Daily Mirror Sydney Jun 13 – portrait of Maggie Fitzpatrick
1985 Woman’s Day Jan 21 Ross House Exhibition
1985 New Idea Ross House Exhibition
1984 Progress Press Wed Nov 28 p 20
1984 The Sun Dec 6 p5 Arts Sup
2007 St. Andrews Primary School
2007 Eltham North Primary School
2005 Polar Arts program, working in the Arctic on the Kapitan Klebnikov
2002/3 Humanities Fellowship – Australian Antarctic Division – Casey Station, Antarctica
2002 Lauriston Girls School – Vic
2000 Tasmanian Writers Cottage residency – TAS
1999 Varuna Writer Fellowship – NSW
1996 Bundanon & Riversdale (Arthur Boyd residency) – NSW
1994 Visiting artist – Leigh Creek High School SA
1994 Studio – Parachilna – Flinders Ranges – (3months)
2005 The Age Newsapaper, Poles Apart, Arctic journey
2005 ‘The Red Dress’, quint essential, Flat Chat Press
2005 Meanjin Literary Magazine – Bohemia in Eltham
2004 Meanjin Literary Magazine – A Break in the Ice – article & photographs
2003 Auroa Magazine – Journey to Antarctica
2003 International Artist – Painting Antarctica
2003 Meanjin Magazine – To the Ice
2003 Thylazine Magazine – The Sublime Journey ( Antarctica )
2002 Thylazine – McDonald Brothers
2002 Australian Artist – The Little Desert feature
2001 The Hamilton Spectator – July Feature – McDonald Brothers
2001 The Age ‘Sunday Life’ –feature about McDonald Brothers of Digby
2001 Infusion – Vol 2 no 3 Nillumbik Artists’ bare sole and open studios
2001 Infusion – Vol 2 no 3 Scarlet Dress
2000 The Age ‘Today’ – essay about the Open Studio
2000 Thylazine – An electronic journal of Aust. Lit. – Landscape and the Poets
2000 Infusion – vol 1 no 3 Eltham
1999 Ulitarra Literary Magazine – Painting A. D. Hope
• The Age – Ash Wednesday
1998 The International Artist – no 2 Spirit of the Land
1995 Australian Artist – 1975 – 95 Survey exhibition – June edition
1994 Australian Artist – Australian Poets Portraits – Jan edition
1994 Australian Artist – Australian Poets Portraits part 2 – Feb Edition
1992 Australian Artist – Cover and Feature article Lake Eyre paintings
1992 Earthdance – I was…
1991 The Australian Artists – Nov. issue
1989 Blowing out the Candles
1983 Fling Vol 3 no 1 Grey Silence
1983 Fling Vol 2 no 1 Abstract Sacrifice, The Poets
1982 Fling Vol 3 nos 3 & 4 Unfinished Symphony
Phillip Institute, (RMIT), Deakin University, Lauriston Girls School, Port Campbell, Portland, Eltham, Little Desert, Montmorency High School,
Leigh Creek High School – SA; Echuca, Deniliquin – NSW,
Montsalvat, Wesley College Camp Vic., Waverley Art Society, Doncaster & Templestowe Art Society, Hawthorn Art Society,
Portland Library, Hamilton Library, Eltham Primary School, Montsalvat,
International Soroptimist, Australia Post, Masters – Monash University Gippsland,
Kapitan Klebnikov, Canadian High Arctic
2004South Project – Asia Centre, Melbourne University
2004Open Exhibition Talk for Alan Martin – Eltham Community Centre
2004 Melbourne University Open Stage – at Art & Pain Conference – Anatomy & Poetics
1980s Secretary Natural Development Association – Eltham conservation committee with Alistair Knox
The Shire of Eltham and Nillumbik
2000 – current, Nillumbik Art & Cultural Advisory Committee
1989 – 1992 Elected Shire Councillor – Shire of Eltham –
Committees included:
Arts Advisory Committee,
Policy & Resource Advisory Committee,
Community Services Advisory Committee
Planning Advisory Committee
Building & Health Advisory Committee
Eltham Business Centre/Light Industrial Area Advisory Committee
State Electricity Committee – council delegate
Edendale Community Farm advisory committee
Eltham Library Advisory committee
Eltham Combined Services Festival Committee
Middle Yarra Advisory Committee
Committee of Whole
Alan Marshall Short Story
Fitzsimmons Lane Action Group
1990s President Eltham Gateway Action Group
2001 – Cultural & Arts Advisory Group – Shire of Nillumbik
2001 -2004 Nillumbik Tourism Association – committee
2001-2004 Nillumbik Literary Committee & Alan Marshall Short Story Award
Monash University – Master of Visual Arts
NNIT – Dip. Professional Writing & Editing
RMIT (Phillip Institute) Dip Of Fine Art
Andre Sollier – sumie painting
Alan Martin School of Art – Max Meldrum tonal painting
Leslie Sinclair – Tonal painting – Montsalvat, Eltham
Stott’s Business College, Melbourne Dip. Secretarial
Eltham High School
