MELANA BONTRAGER

EDUCATION

1999     MA – Creative Arts Therapy, Hofstra University, Hempstead, NY
1997     BFA – Art/Psychology, Taylor University, Upland, IN
1996     Photography/Painting/Drawing, Studio Art Centers International, Florence, Italy      
                                                                           
EXHIBITIONS

2021    Other People’s Conversations, J. Rinehart Gallery, Seattle, WA
2020 Conversations, J. Rinehart Gallery, Seattle, WA
2019 Introductions, J. Rinehart Gallery, Seattle, WA
2019    Art of Story, Featured Artist, Michael Birawer Gallery, Seattle, WA
            Drawn Into Story, Art and Music Collaboration with Moodybear Music, Everett, WA
2018    Holiday Show, Group Show, Michael Birawer Gallery, Seattle, WA
           Arts Bestowed, Holiday Group Show, Traumhaus Gallery, Snohomish, WA
           Landscape Abstracts, Two artist show, Traumhaus Gallery, Snohomish, WA
           Fresh Paint Artist Festival, Juried participant, Everett, WA             
           Seattle Emerging Arts Fair, Juried Group Show, Seattle Art Post, Seattle, WA
           Bellevue Art Museum Arts Festival, Bellevue, WA
           Make Your Mark, Summer National Juried Exhibition, Marin MOCA, Novato, CA
           Artistic Impressions, International publication, World of Interiors magazine, London, UK
           Visual Impressions, Juried group show, Ryan James Fine Arts, Kirkland, WA
           Everett Art Walk, Solo exhibit, Waxology, Everett, WA
2017    Edmonds Art Walk, Solo exhibit, Ombu Salon, Edmonds, WA
           4th Annual Living Mark Exhibition, ​Juried group show, Verum Ultimum, Portland, OR
           Emerald Spring Exhibition, Juried group show, Emerald Art Center, Springfield, OR
           WAOW Spring Online Exhibit, Juried group show, WAOW.org
           Fresh Paint Artist Festival, Juried participant, Everett, WA
2016    Art and Wine, Wicked Cellars Gallery, Solo show: painting and jazz collaboration with John Carswell, Everett, WA
           20th Juried Show, Schack Art Center, Juried group show, Everett, WA
           Fresh Paint Artist Festival, Juried participant, Everett, WA
2015    Microcosmos, Gallery 621, Juried group show, Benicia, CA
           Juried Alumni Exhibition, Taylor University, Juried group show, Upland, IN
           Fresh Paint Artist Festival, Juried participant, Everett, WA
2014    Fresh Paint Artist Festival, Featured artist ,Everett, WA
2013    17th Juried Show, Schack Art Center, Juried group show, Everett, WA
           Fresh Paint Artist Festival, Juried participant, Everett, WA
2012    Art and Wine, Wicked Cellars Gallery, Solo show: multi-discipline art collaboration, Everett, WA
           Fresh Paint Artist Festival, Juried participant, Everett, WA
2010    14th Juried Show, Schack Art Center, Juried group show, Everett, WA
           Pacific Northwest Abstract Show, Gallery by the Bay, Group show, Stanwood, WA
           Wicked Cellars Gallery, Solo show, Everett, WA
           Fresh Paint Artist Festival, Juried participant, Everett, WA
2009   Art and Furniture Show, White Sage Studio, Group show, Ballard, WA
           Art and Architecture, collaboration with TeamTroy Realty, Group show, Ballard, WA
           Belltown Art Walk, Group show, Seattle, WA
           Fresh Paint Artist Festival, Juried participant, Everett, WA
2008   Art on the Town, Gallery by the Bay, Group show, Bellevue, WA
           Fresh Paint Artist Festival, Juried participant, Everett, WA
2007   Art as Home Decor, Bellevue Home Show, Gallery representation exhibition, Bellevue, WA
           Spring Show, Gallery by the Bay, Group show, Stanwood, WA
           Local Art, Lowell Artworks Gallery, Group show, Lowell, WA
           Wallingford Art Walk, Business/Art collaboration, Seattle, WA
2005   Small Works, d.Art Gallery,  Juried group show,  Southampton, MA


ART COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT

2010-2019    H’Arts Auction, Schack Art Center, Art donation/participation, Everett, WA
2016-18     Pints and Pumpkins,​ Schack Art Center, ​Commissioned Art pieces, ​Everett, WA
2017     Theater Set Design, Commissioned Christmas Tree, The Dance School, Everett, WA
2016-17     Reflections--Port Gardner Art Competition, Chair, Everett, WA
2016            Reflections--Everett School District Competition, Juror, Everett, WA
                   WAOW--Women Artists of the West, Associate member
2015            Reflections—PTSA Mukilteo Art Competition, Juror, Mukilteo, WA
2014            Scholastic Art Awards, Juror, Snohomish Co, WA               
2013            Schack Art Center, Grant, 2014 art festival poster, Everett, WA
                   Street Tunes, Commissioned public art piece, Everett, WA
                   Washington State Art Educators Conference, Presenter, Des Moines, WA
2011             City of Everett art collaboration, Commissioned city mural project, Everett, WA