Melissa walks her Hawaii neighborhood as Fissure 17 of Kilauea volcano erupts in a lava fountain. Days later, this idyllic scene was covered by lava. Photograph by Dominic Tidmarsh
Melissa photographed long before deciding to become a photographer. For several years, she pursued music and sang in a large choir for international audiences, plus an 8 voice a cappella group for intimate gatherings. Then one day, after hiking with her dog for an hour in Acadia National Park, she realized she forgot to bring the camera. So she hiked another hour back to her cabin, grabbed the camera, then continued on a seven hour hike. This was the moment she decided to study photography full time. She picked the Maine Photographic Workshops, because she didn’t want to leave Maine. She opened her own photography studio in Washington, DC, working for artists and galleries. When her artist husband joined her, they switched to weddings, and received positive press for their non-traditional style.
In 1996, she moved to Hawaii, bought 9 acres of abandoned land, planted over 700 trees by hand, and built her dream house with the help of a friendly carpenter. She lived off-grid on solar power and rainwater catchment, until 2018, when Kilauea Volcano erupted near her home and changed her life. During the months of evacuating from lava inundation, she photographed every day and fulfilled a commitment to produce her solo photography exhibition - without a home base, and only 5 weeks of “free” time. The resulting press and comments from the exhibition showed her that Life has a way of pointing us in the right direction, even when we’re focused on a different path. She is currently working on a photo book about evacuating from the eruption: Lava Next Door.
Bio
Artist Statement
My recent projects look directly at sudden change and how to move forward while feeling disoriented. In the space of two years, I lost my dad to dementia and my home to a volcanic eruption. Creativity helps me to unwind complex feelings, to make something new as a counterpoint to the destruction.
Melissa Schelling CV
Education
2023 “Publish Your Photography Book,” Mary Virginia Swanson and Darius Himes, La Luz Workshops
2022 “Finding Your Audience,” Mary Virginia Swanson, La Luz Workshops
1982-1983 Maine Photographic Workshops, Residence Programs and Independent Study, Rockport, Maine
Craig Stevens, David Lyman, Kate Carter, Annie Kurutz, George Rehrey, Steve Bliss
1976-1980 Bachelor of Arts, Music, Beloit College, Beloit, Wisconsin
Career
1998-2006 Melissa Schelling Photography, Pahoa, Big Island, Hawaii
1986-1996 Schelling and Tidmarsh Photography Studio, Washington, DC
Awards
2001 Hawaii Photo Expo, 2nd Place, jurors Tom Haar, Meleanna Aluli-Meyer, Linda Ching
2001 Hawaii Photo Expo, People’s Choice Award, jurors Tom Haar, Meleanna Aluli-Meyer, Linda Ching
2000 Big Island Arts Guild, 1st Place, juror Tom Klobe
2000 Big Island Arts Guild, 2nd Place, juror David J. de la Torre
1992 Photographer’s Forum Magazine, Finalist
1990 The Washingtonian Magazine, Top 10 Wedding Photographers
1989 Photographer’s Forum Magazine, Finalist
1988 Artist Equity Annual Membership Awards, 1st Place, juror David Tannous
Solo Exhibitions
2018 “Year of the Dog: Lava Evacuation,” Fountain Gallery, Wailoa Center, Hilo, Hawaii
2000 Art in the Cafe Espresso, Border’s Books, Hilo Hawaii
Group Exhibitions
2019 Transformative Forces: Creation through Destruction, juror Carl F.K. Pao, Kahilu Theatre, Waimea, Hawaii
2019 Eruption One Year Later, juror Codie King, Wailoa Center, Hilo, Hawaii
2017 Abstract Only, juror Hiroki Morinoue, Wailoa Center, Hilo, Hawaii
2013 Hawaii Photo Expo, juror Anne Lyden, Wailoa Center, Hilo, Hawaii
2007 Hawaii Photo Expo, juror Doug Beasley, Wailoa Center, Hilo, Hawaii
2004 Hawaii Photo Expo, jurors Inger Tully and Douglas Peebles, Wailoa Center, Hilo, Hawaii
2003 Hawaii Photo Expo, jurors Randy Jay Braun and Ron Dahlquist, Lyman Museum, Hilo, Hawaii
2002 Hawaii Photo Expo, juror Shuzo Uemoto, Lyman Museum, Hilo, Hawaii
2001 Hawaii Photo Expo, jurors Tom Haar, Meleanna Aluli-Meyer, Linda Ching, Lyman Museum, Hilo, Hawaii
2000 Hawaii Photo Expo, jurors Tami Dawson, David Ulrich, Seth Jones, Wailoa Center, Hilo, Hawaii
2000 Fall Arts Fest, juror Tom Klobe, Big Island Arts Guild, Heritage Museum, Honoka`a, Hawaii,
2000 Spring Arts Festival, juror David J. de la Torre, Big Island Arts Guild, Wailoa Center, Hilo, Hawaii
2000 All Hawaii Juried Art Exhibition, juror Allison Wong, East Hawaii Cultural Center, Hilo, Hawaii
1999 Goddess Show, juror Leila Mehle, East Hawaii Cultural Center, Hilo, Hawaii
1991 Your Shot Our Show, juror Jo Tartt Jr, Tartt Gallery, Washington, DC
1988 Third Annual Competition, juror David Tannous, Artist Equity Association, Washington, DC
1988 Dog Days Dog Show, juror Kathleen Ewing, Kathleen Ewing Gallery, Washington, DC
1987 Selected Images Photography Exhibition, Foundry Gallery, Washington, DC
1985 Light Sensitive VI, juror Duane Michals, National Photography Exhibition, Gainesville, Florida
1984 14th Annual Multi Media Show, juror Willem de Looper, Athenaeum Gallery, Old Town Alexandria, VA
1983 10 Year Retrospective, jurors: Maine Photographic Workshops, Washington Square Galleries East, NYC
1983 Bayview Street Cinema, jurors: Maine Photographic Workshops, Camden, Maine
1964 Children’s Exhibition, Royal Ontario Museum, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Publications
2021 LensCulture, Editor’s Picks, Fine Art Photography Awards
2020 Beloit College Magazine, “Kilauea in the Year of the Dog”
2018 Associated Press News, “Puna photographer hopes her eruption pictures help others”
2018 US News and World Report, “Puna photographer hopes her eruption pictures help others”
2018 Hawaii Tribune Herald, “Year of the Dog - Photographer hopes exhibit will help others cope with lava disaster”
2018 West Hawaii Today, “Year of the Dog - Photographer hopes exhibit will help others cope with lava disaster”
2018 KGMB-TV eruption photographer, Hawaii (to be updated)
2014 The Bark Magazine, “Smiling Dogs”
2006 “Mauna Kea: Temple Under Siege,” producers Joan Lander and Abraham Puhipau Ahmad, Public Television Documentary
2004 The Bark Magazine, “Smiling Dogs”
2003 Smith Farm Center for the Healing Arts, Washington, DC
1998 Music CD Cover and booklet photos, Oona McQuat, “Yearning”
1992 Photographer’s Forum Magazine
1991 The Washingtonian Magazine, “A More Perfect Union”
1990 The Washingtonian Magazine, “Blissful Beginnings”
1989 Photographer’s Forum Magazine
1988 Art Calendar, Award Winners’ Showcase, Great Falls, VA
1988 Washington Artists News, Washington, DC
1982 Bangor Daily News, “Bar Harbor is theme of new vacation game”
1982 Bar Harbor Vacation Game ©1982, Self Published, Mount Desert Island, Maine
Teaching
2018 “How to Photograph Your Art,” Inaugural Workshop at Wailoa Center, Hilo, Hawaii
1985 “Photography,” After School program, John Eaton Elementary School, Washington, DC
Affiliations
2017-18 Hawaii Island Art Alliance, Board Member
2002-03 Hawaii Photo Expo, Competition Committee Chair and Board Member
2001 Hawaii Island FILM Club
2001 Hawai’i Island Writer’s Association, Charter Member
1993 Arlington Cable Television, Video Producer, Arlington, Virginia.
1988 Artist Equity Association, Member, DC Chapter, Washington, DC