Elissa Melaragno - Project Manager, Instructor, Artist

1981 - BFA, the Lamar Dodd School of Art, University of Georgia Athens, GA

Employment

1981-2009 -  Moriah Studio, Hendersonville, NC (until 2005) and Weston, MA - Owner - Operating as a small business part time (1981 - 1990 and 2006 - 2009) and full time (1991 - 2005) – Special projects, paintings, murals, interiors, Art/Creativity Instruction, Arts in Healthcare

2007-2009 - Wilkins Art Associates, Waltham, MA – Consultant, project manager, designer, artist –  Pam Wilkins-Horowitz, principle – Specializing in placing art in the Healthcare environment.

Clients: Children’s Hospital Boston and Waltham, Maine Medical Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Cape Cod Hospital, Mount Auburn Hospital.

Duties included: Organizing  and strengthening Wilkins Art PR and marketing materials – Presenting the firm to new clients - Developing volunteer Art Planning Committees with the client - Developing Art Master Plans – Creating budgets from 3,000 to 600,000 dollars- Creating and maintaining massive excel mail merge documents for the client’s inventory – Developing and maintaining relationships with artists in the clients locality.

Member – The Society of the Arts in Healthcare

2006 – Sabbatical – Biddeford Pool, ME – Studies involved psychology, creativity and spirituality especially as related to mid-life transitions and young adult creativity.

Mercy Institute, Colorado Springs, CO – Completed Certification as a Spiritual Director and Completed Advanced Mandala Training

1992 - 2005 - Private Art/Creativity Instructor - Hendersonville, NC– Personally designed program which focused on each student entering into the creative process in a manner unique to their interests, drive and state of mind when they came from school to me - Starting with only a few students, I developed an unique after school program with 50 students on three days with a waiting list for many years. The work of my students through community grants, a local hospital and their hard work became infamous.

Blue Ridge Community College,Hendersonville, NC – 12 years - Drawing and painting instructor for adults 18 – 95 years old – Created and taught a unique advanced approach to color which upgraded the student’s confidence and freedom to enter the creative experience through painting.

Veritas Academy, Fletcher, NC-  3 ½ years – developed art program based on developing a life long confidence in entering the creative experience - Part time Art teacher – Third through Fifth grade art – Seventh grade Art Appreciation – Upper school Art History and college preparatory art classes.

1987 - 1990 - Highland Lake Inn and Conference Center, Flat Rock, NC - Director - Involved in the first three years of operation and renovation. Hired subcontractors, supervised large scale design projects, interior designer, managed staff, set up the initial phases of the house keeping and food and beverage departments, implemented initial marketing strategies.

1984 - 1987 - Discontinued painting for three years to learn advanced business skills.

Carvalette of America Inc., NYC, NY, and Westport, CT - Began general office duties. Two months later began work in sales dept. Six months later began establishing marketing strategies for regional and national sales. Promoted to Vice-President of sales and marketing with the duty of hiring and training sales people nationally. \

1983 – 1984 - Beyond Painting Company, NYC, NY – Colorist - special and faux finishes.

1981 - 1983 - Fay Gold School of Art, Atlanta, GA.Painting Instructor

Commissions and Artistic Accomplishments

2008 - Massachusetts General Hospital – Delivered concept, design and implementation of a 3D mural on removable panels with activity sheets for their new Pediatric Emergency Department waiting room
Project Manager – February through September 2008 - Worked on the acquisition and placement of over 300 pieces of art for Maine Medical Center’s Woman and Infant’s Services located in their new four story East Tower - Presently (2009) working on their new ED Department.

2007 - Children’s Hospital Boston – Permanent Collection - Seven original Acrylic paintings on board.

1997 - 2005 - Worked on prototypes for large scale Public Arts Projects using an entirely new concept i.e. making panels of wood, Masonite and Sign Foam look like stained glass.

2000 Pardee Hospital, Hendersonville, NC – Developed concept and executed the permenant transformation of the pediatric unit into “Critterwood Forest” – Every inch of the walls was painted by me and student artists – Every patient room had a piece of art created by student artists.

1999 - Grant from the Four Seasons Arts Council & the Community Foundation to do two exterior murals with local teenagers. Three of these teenagers have since been commissioned to do other murals.

Best of Show - Garden Jubilee Juried Art Show, Hendersonville, NC.

1998 - Regional “Emerging Artists Grant” - Awarded by The Four Seasons Arts Council, The Transylvania Art Council and The Polk County Arts Council.

Atrium Sculpture - "Under His Wings" -- 12'X12' - Grace Community Church Asheville, NC - Steel and Balsa Wood on cable controlled by boat wench - Constructed on location.

Participated in 3 women show "Behold His Glory" Asheville, NC
"Most original" award in Holiday Show, The Arts Center Hendersonville, NC

1997 -"Most original" award in Holiday Show at The Arts Center. Hendersonville, NC
Show- "Heaven and Earth" Asheville, NC.

1996 - Savannah Beach Grill, Hendersonville, NC - 6’X8’ Oil On Canvas - Site Specific Worked with owner designing a suitable large scale painting for the entry to his restaurant.

Private Commission - Hendersonville, NC - Worked with decorator to create 3 large scale pieces to suit unusual spaces. 1- "Clarke Children on Lake", Three panels of stretched canvas, 2x4, 3x6, 2x4, joined as a triptych [ 2-"Egrets", triptych, 24"x48", 30"x60", 24"x48" - 3-"Caribbean", triptych, 3 panels 36"x48"] -All three are works Site Specific.

1995 - St. James Episcopal Church, Hendersonville, NC - Room murals (2) - "The Creation"480 sq. ft. Acrylic on walls- Site-Specific.

Binion’s Steakhouse,Hendersonville, NC - Four murals completed (4’x 11’, 4’x 11’,4’x 16’, 25’x 15’) Old west theme - All designed specifically for their locations -Three murals painted in studio on medium density fiberboard and installed, completed and varnished on- site. The forth, 25’x15’ painted directly on wall.

Completed three private painting commissions.

1992 - 1994 -   Annual Friends of the Library Juried Student Art Exhibit - Henderson County, NC - Established and coordinated the exhibits and awards for all students of Henderson County within and without the public school system - 500 entries, 70 exhibited.

1994 - Mr. David Thompson - County Manager, Henderson County, NC developing ideas for public artwork in the new County Courthouse
Henderson County Courthouse,Hendersonville, NC- Five 30 "x40” pieces painted specifically for new County Courthouse - Oils on linen – Inspired by the County’s photo archives - Of the many other artworks displayed in the 100,000 sq. ft. building, Mr. Thompson stated that these five paintings have received the most attention and given more pleasure to the public than any others in the building.
Dr. George Clarke, Flat Rock, NC. Room mural - "Noah’s Ark - The Exit" - Site Specific - Some areas installed on removable panels. Painted in studio and completed and varnished on site.

Completed five private painting commissions.

1993 - Henderson County Public Library - Public Commission for Henderson County, NC -  Two large paintings for the new library - Oils (36"x48") - Site Specific.

South Main Street Antiques,Hendersonville, NC - Outdoor mural (14’x24’) Acrylic on wood

St. James Episcopal Church,Hendersonville, NC - Indoor mural (360 degree - 800sq.ft.) "Noah’s Ark - The Entry" - Acrylic on walls - Site Specific.

First Assemblies of God Church, Traveler’s Rest, SC - Indoor mural (6’x12’) "The Resurrection" - Oil on three 6’x4’ panels installed and varnished on-site.

Completed seven private painting commissions.

1990 - 1992 - Hendersonville, NC - Returned to full time work as an artist - Completed forty-five private commissions as well as numerous design projects - Displayed paintings in many local art shows.

Cared for terminally-ill mother.

1988 – 1990 - Returned to painting part-time - Painted fifteen oils which remain in the collection of The Highland Lake Inn.

1983 - 1987 - Relocated to New York City.

Newport Historical Society Newport, RI & Preservation Society of Savannah, GA - Completed Series of drawings for publication of historic homes.

Completed a series of oils on paper "Nantucket Island".

1978 - 1981 - The Lamar Dodd School of Art,University of Georgia, Athens, GA)
Enrolled in, and completed, the BFA curriculum
The Arts Students Organization,UGA - Founder, President 
Spectrum - Athens, GA. Founder, Vice President, a professional artist’s organization
Athens Steam Company, Athens, GA – Coordinated a student mural competition and execution of a series of 15 murals ranging in sizes 24"x48" to 8’x12’
Old Mill Shopping Mall Athens, GA. Indoor mural - 9’x20’ - Site Specific
East Athens Community Center Athens, GA. outdoor mural - 30’x50’- Site Specific - Initiated concept, found funding and UGA faculty support and received course credit, along with 3 other students, for work which gained state-wide recognition.

1977 - Studied art in Europe for seven months.

Born in Providence, RI - Grew up beside father in his sculpture studio while he executed many large scale public art projects. Excelled in sculpture and photography - Won numerous childhood awards in the arts