March's Featured Artist is
Russ Mendelson
Artist Reception
will be Saturday, March 6th 1-4pm

Born in New York City, Russell Mendelson moved to
Western Colorado after being honorably discharged from the U.S. Army
in 1964. He resides in Grand Junction with his wife, Mary.
They have 3 married sons, Phillip, Michael and Russell, Jr.
Majoring in art, with a minor in history, he
received his Bachelor of Arts at Western State College in 1971.
He was recognized as Outstanding Senior Art Student the same year.
In 1977, Russell went on to receive his Masters from the University
of Northern Colorado.
His degree pointed him to teaching and in 1963 he
completed ten years as an art teacher at the Nucla High School.
After that, Russell and Mary moved to Grand Junction with their
children, where he accepted an art teaching position at Central High
School in 1984. He stayed there for 20 years, receiving
Outstanding Teacher of the Year in 2003, one year before his
retirement.
Since Russell's retirement in 2004, he has been
painting seriously, entering shows and receiving numerous awards
around the Grand Valley and in Green River, Utah. His art has
been in the Art Centers Members and Student Instructors Shows, Brush
& Palette Club, Palisade Art Lovers, Green River Museum and the
Fruita Civic Center. He's had one-person shows at the Palisade
Cafe and Pablo's Pizza. Russell is a member of Western
Colorado Center for the Arts and the Brush & Palette Club.

