Today we’d like to introduce you to Jason Mehl.
Jason, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I’ve had in interest in creating since I was young. I’m no different, but my interest peaked when I went to high-school at Winston, which is at the corner of Royal and the Tollway. The teachers there encouraged me to spend time in the ceramic’s studio and the dark-room. I’d arriver early, stay late, and would spend most of my lunches in the art department.
In college I kept making art but focused on science courses and got a degree in Environmental Science. After school, I spent years traveling and working, often living out of my truck or a tent. When in 2007 I started focusing on art again and showed my work for the first time. Jaques Lamey, who had one of the first galleries on Dragon Street encouraged me to pursue my art.
In ’08 I moved to Korea and spent nearly five years developing a body of work, rock-climbing, and teaching. In 2013 I had my first solo exhibition in the United States on Dragon Street. I leave Dallas regularly but always seem to find my way back. Since then I’ve had many exhibitions, and currently show at Valley House Gallery in North Dallas, along with other galleries throughout the world.
Has it been a smooth road?
Smooth? haha. NO. I wouldn’t even say there were moments that were smooth. Just varying degrees of rough roads. That’s fine though. You don’t decide to dedicate your life to art and expect it to be easy. I’m at the point where I realize that having a roof over my head, and funding to make work is a pretty good deal. It’s rare that artists get more than that. I spent the last two years with no shower or kitchen, and funding was hit and miss. Just before COVID hit, those three things came together for me so I’m pretty excited to see what the next few years bring.
We’d love to hear more about your business.
I’m a sculptor and work mostly in cast materials such as glass, bronze, and stainless steel. My most recent accomplishment that I’m proud of is that I designed the world’s largest neurodegenerative research award (The Rainwater Prize) for the Rainwater Foundation based in Ft. Worth.
Is our city a good place to do what you do?
Honestly, I don’t. It’s extremely hard for an artist to get the kind of support they need to continue producing work especially when the material costs are so high. This is probably why I’ve lived in so many places since moving back to the States including Portland, Aspen, Denver, and few places around Dallas. Each place had certain perks but lacked other things. None of them seemed to have an outpouring of support for local artists, but I think that’s a common theme in the U.S. Dallas definitely has the best cost of living though, and the food can hold it own against most foodie cities.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.jasonmehl.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/Jason_Mehl
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