Artwork copyright Mike Mandel. Photo courtesy of the artist.

Artwork copyright Mike Mandel. Photo courtesy of the artist.

High School, 1999

Mike Mandel
(American, born 1950)

Location: Skyview High School, Vancouver

ABOUT THE ARTWORK

Artist Mike Mandel created the tile mural High School in collaboration with artist Larry Sultan. The artwork is comprised of four sections. 'Hand on Heart' features students reciting the pledge of allegiance. 'Globe' features imagery of a globe on placed on stacked chairs to symbolize how school prepares you for life in the world. 'Girl with basketball and composition' symbolizes how young people can shape their own identities. The 'Portraits' section images of fifteen students, and represents a cross-section of the Skyview community. They hope that future students will recognize themselves in the portraits. To create this artwork, Sultan and Mandel spent time visiting the newly opened Skyview High School during the 1998-1999 school year. They interviewed and photographed students in classes, at lunch, and after school. They note, "A documentary serves to make connection with a moment. We see our mural reflecting exactly this moment in history. The styles of the student's clothing, the language and activities depicted in the mural are all chosen to reflect contemporary life at Skyview High School."

This artwork was acquired for the State Art Collection in partnership with Vancouver School District.

ABOUT THE ARTIST

Artist Mike Mandel creates large-scale mosaic murals using photographic imagery. He states that his "approach to permanent public art is to tap into the intertwined stories of history, myth, images of land and community."

Mandel received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Philosophy from the California State University Northridge in 1972. He received his Master of Fine Arts degree from the San Francisco Art Institute in 1974.