Life as an Artist & Achievements
Pamphlet of "Transformations to Tricksters: Selections from 35 years of Sculpture, 1974-2009" (Viewable PDF)
Before pursuing art, Mickelson always had the hobby of collecting various objects that he found in nature.[16] "I remember walking around with my pockets loaded with objects," he said in an interview.[17] "I was constantly picking things up and carrying them around with me."[18]
He would later utilize these objects for his work by combining them with materials such as wood and metal to create the many animal-like sculptures, known as Woodland Creatures, we see today.[19] This is especially notable in one of his exhibitions, "Transformation to Trickster: Selections from 35 years of Sculpture, 1974-2009."
Mickelson was also a member of the International Sculpture Center, Society of Minnesota Sculptors, and several other art organizations.[20] He was also instrumental in launching the Plains Art Museum's S.P.A.C.E. (Sculpture Pad Art Collaborative Experiment) series, which is an outdoor sculpture pad with rotating works from the area's colleges.[21]
The following is a list of selected exhibitions and awards from the years 1992-2006 (reverse chronological order):[22]
2006
47th Midwestern Invitational; The Rourke Gallery, Moorhead, MN
Group Sculpture Invitational; the Cornucopia Art Center, Lanesboro, MN
Love is at the Rourke Invitational; The Rourke Gallery
2005
Lake Region Arts Council Regional Invitational; Fergus Falls, MN
2nd Place Award, Society of Minnesota Sculptors Fall Juried Exhibition; Bloomington Arts Center
Honorable Mention, 46th Midwestern Invitational; The Rourke Museum, Moorhead, MN
Best of Show, Society of Minnesota Sculptors Spring Juried Exhibition; Bloomington Arts Center
2004
45th Midwestern Invitational; The Rourke Museum
Concordia Faculty Exhibition
Best of Show; Hawley Art Show, Hawley, MN
2003
2nd Place Award, 44th Midwestern Invitational; The Rourke Museum
Concordia Faculty Exhibition
Sanctuary Invitational Exhibition; Concordia College, Moorhead, MN
Featured Artist; Scandinavian Hjemkomst Festival, Moorhead, MN
2002
43rd Midwestern Invitational; The Rourke Museum
Sculpture in the Park; Loveland, CO
Concordia Faculty Exhibition
2001
42nd Midwestern Invitational; The Rourke Museum
Sculpture in the Park; Loveland, CO
Concordia Faculty Exhibition
2000
Lake Region Arts Council Group Exhibition; Fergus Falls, MN
Concordia Faculty Exhibition
1999
Honorable Mention, 40th Midwestern Invitational; The Rourke Museum (Juror: Frederick Osborne, Dean and Director of the School of the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts)
Culture and Agriculture; New Visions Gallery, Marshfield, WI
Concordia Faculty Exhibition
1998
Art on the Plains Regional Juried Exhibition; Plains Art Museum, Fargo, ND
Loveland Sculpture Invitational; Loveland, CO
Group Show; Antiquarium Gallery, Omaha, MB
Group Show; Paper Moon Gallery, Kearney, NB
Group Show; Prairie Winds Art Center, Grand Island, NB
39th Midwestern Invitational; The Rourke Gallery
Concordia Faculty Exhibition
1997
38th Midwestern Invitational; The Rourke Gallery
Concordia Faculty Exhibition
1996
First Place Award and purchase for the permanent collection, 37th Midwestern Invitational; The Rourke Gallery
Alumni Invitational Exhibition; Department of Visual Arts, University of North Dakota
Arrowhead Biennial Juried Exhibition; Duluth Art Institute, Duluth, MN
Concordia Faculty Exhibition
1995
Third Place Award, 36th Midwestern Invitational; The Rourke Gallery
Two-person exhibition, Fur and Feathers Come Together; Bloomington Art Center, Bloomington, MN
National Lutheran College and University Art Exhibition; Lutheran Brotherhood Insurance, Minneapolis, MN
Concordia Faculty Exhibition
Alumni Invitational Exhibition; Department of Visual Arts, University of North Dakota
Concordia Art Faculty Exhibition at Luther Seminary; St. Paul, MN
1994
35th Midwestern Invitational; The Rourke Gallery
Group Show; Creative Arts Studio
Concordia Faculty Exhibition
1993
First Place and Honorable Mention, Artel's Studio Open Media National Exhibition; Kearney, NB
New York Mills Regional Cultural Center Juried Exhibition; New York Mills, MN
Concordia Faculty Exhibition
1992
North American Sculpture Exhibition; Foothills Art Center, Golden, CO
Concordia Faculty Exhibition
[16] Raihala, Ross, "Artist by Nature," The Forum, November 23, 1997. Mickelson, Duane Biography Files Collection, Concordia College Archives.
[17] Raihala, "Artist by Nature."
[18] Raihala, "Artist by Nature."
[19] Raihala, "Artist by Nature."
[20] Larson, "Artist and educator Duane Mickelson dies at 62."
[21] Larson, "Artist and educator Duane Mickelson dies at 62."
[22] "Vitae." Mickelson, Duane Biography Files Collection, Concordia College Archives.