Melanie Coffee

Bio

Melanie Coffee was born in Hollywood, CA., 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 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. She added a minor in Art History, in 2005.

When not behind the camera, she works as Collections Registrar at the UNLV Marjorie Barrick Museum.

EDUCATION
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* UNLV 2004-present, Senior in Studio Art program - Photography Emphasis, Art History minor

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

* Los Angeles Pierce College 1988-1990 Anthropology undergraduate courses

EXHIBITIONS
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* 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
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* 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
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* 2000
The Clap in The Worst F*cking Gig Ever - installation by Robert Wedemeyer, Avago Gallery, Los Angeles Brewery Project

PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
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Contemporary Arts Center, Las Vegas, Sponsored Member - 2009
Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society Inducted 2009
American Association of Museums 2007-present
Nevada Museums Association 2007-present
AIGA Student Member, Los Angeles Chapter 2002-2003