MELANIE COFFEE
www.melaniecoffee.com coffeephotography@yahoo.com
________________________________________________________________

Melanie Coffee was born in Hollywood, C.A., 1964. Schooled in classical piano at a Los Angeles conservatory, she smashed her parent's hopes and dreams when she turned her back on classical and instead fully embraced the punk rock movement in 1980. This musical awakening led to years of rabid record collecting and the building of her extensive archive of flyers documenting the L.A. punk and underground music scene of the early 1980's.

When being a spectator was no longer enough, Melanie taught herself to play bass guitar and took to the stage in 1991. Twelve years later she had 17 recorded releases under her belt, culminating in the self-penned album "Pure Pop For Punk People" by The Excessories, released in 2001 on the independent label Sympathy For The Record Industry. After matching major-label band Weezer vote-for-vote in a battle for the L.A Weekly's 2002 "Best Rock / Pop Band" award, she promptly disbanded The Excessories when the band's popularity was at its height.

Chasing the only portion of the American Dream that still seemed within reach, Melanie and her husband bought a house and moved to Las Vegas, Nevada in 2003. She enrolled in the Studio Art program at UNLV with an emphasis on photography, graduating Magna Cum Laude in 2009. Not one for relaxation, she applied and was accepted to the University of Leicester’s Master’s Degree program in Museum Studies in 2010.

When not behind the camera, she volunteers at as many local arts institutions as she possibly can.

EDUCATION
________________________________________________________________

· University of Leicester Leicester, England, 2010–present, MA in Museum Studies

· UNLV Las Vegas, NV, 2004-2009, BA in Studio Art – Photography, Art History minor, Magna Cum Laude

· UCLA Extension Los Angeles, CA, 2001-2003, foundation classes in Graphic Design

· Los Angeles Pierce College Woodland Hills, CA, 1988-1990 Anthropology undergraduate courses

EXHIBITIONS
________________________________________________________________

· 2010
RNG Gallery, Omaha, NB – “A Book About Death” Mail Art Show

· 2010
Contemporary Arts Center, Las Vegas, NV – Erin Stellmon’s “Reign Of Glass” group collaboration

· 2010
Playland, Eagle Rock, CA – “Critical Mass” Mail Art Show

· 2009
Vagus Nerve Gallery, Las Vegas, NV – "The Hugh Moore" group show

· 2008
Vagus Nerve Gallery, Las Vegas, NV – "Negative Space" group show

· 2008
Vagus Nerve Gallery, Las Vegas, NV – "Nerve Damage" group show

PUBLICATIONS
________________________________________________________________

· 2009
Vagus Nerve, UNLV Arts Journal, Associate Editor

· 2008
Vagus Nerve, UNLV Arts Journal, Associate Editor – "Motor Court Mini", "My, What A Big Cog You Have"

· 2007
Vagus Nerve, UNLV Arts Journal – "Wino-no", "Self Portrait", "Nothing's Shocking"

· 2000
Driving Me Wild, Powerhouse Books – "Doorslammer"

PERFORMANCE ART
________________________________________________________________

· 2000
The Clap in The Worst Fucking Gig Ever – installation by Robert Wedemeyer, Avago Gallery, Los Angeles Brewery Project

PROFESSIONAL AND ARTS ORGANIZATIONS
________________________________________________________________

AIGA Los Angeles Chapter - Student Member 2002-2003
American Association of Museum - Member 2007-present
Contemporary Arts Center, Las Vegas, NV - Member 2009-present, Exhibition Committee 2010-present
Nevada Museums Association - Member - 2007-present
Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society Inducted 2009
Registrar’s Committee of the American Association of Museums - Member 2007-present
Registrar’s Committee Western Region - Member 2008-present