[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 39 (Tuesday, March 5, 2024)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E215]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                            HONORING ED MELL

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. GREG STANTON

                               of arizona

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, March 5, 2024

  Mr. STANTON. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor the life and legacy of Ed 
Mell, who we lost at the age of 81 on February 21, 2024. An inspiration 
to the Arizona arts community and the world, Ed will forever be 
remembered as the originator of some of the most iconic depictions of 
the desert landscape.
  A Phoenix native, Ed was born in 1942 and at a very young age was 
drawn to the arts. He went on to graduate from Phoenix Junior College 
and the ArtCenter College of Design in Pasadena. After a six-year stint 
in New York City where he pursued his interest in commercial 
advertising, Ed aspired to have greater creative freedom which he was 
only able to find back in his home state of Arizona. In 1970, Ed 
accepted a teaching position on the Hopi Reservation during which he 
rediscovered the charm and beauty of the desert. Ed then relocated to 
Phoenix and in the decades that followed, he became one of the most 
respected and venerated artists of Arizona, dedicated to capturing the 
Southwest desert landscape.
  Throughout his long career, museums and galleries around the globe 
exhibited his work, while private collectors sought the chance to add 
one of his pieces to their possessions. Although recognized globally 
for artistic accolades, Ed will always be remembered as generous and 
kind. He was a devoted friend and a loving and proud husband and 
father. Beyond his personal relationships, Ed's impact can be seen in 
numerous city projects including the imposing bronze rider astride a 
bucking horse in the middle of Old Town Scottsdale and his U.S. Postal 
Service Centennial stamp.
  Ed's depictions of the vibrant Arizona sunsets, sweeping vistas, and 
dramatic mountains will forever cement him as one of the greatest 
landscape artists of all time. Ed is survived by his wife, Rose Marie, 
and his son, Carson, along with a deeply admiring and extensive fan 
base.
  I thank Ed for his years of inspiration and dedication. Godspeed.