Mitchell Freifeld

The Mojave Phone Booth, Oil Painting

2023

Artist Comments
Twelve miles from the nearest paved road, the Mojave phone booth was set up in 1948 for use by the miners in that area. It underwent several upgrades, the last being a touch-tone system in the '70s. By the late '90s, it had gained fame, and people from all over the world would travel there to answer calls. In this painting, a parked car tells of people waiting to discover who might be at the other end of the line. However, it was removed in 2000. This was a unique and wonderful phenomenon. The phone number associated with it was BAker-3-9969.

About the Artist
Artist Mitchell Freifeld depicts architecture that evokes memory and nostalgia. Using a modernist approach, he highlights details that often fade into the background of familiarity. With his camera, he meticulously documents the world around him, using his shots as a reference for his art. "My works are the product of a process that is more intuitive than intellectual and a passion for simple, modern architecture and light," says Mitchell. After winning his first juried show at 10, Mitchell's lifelong dream of becoming a full-time artist took root. A pivotal moment in 2001 prompted him to seize the chance and devote himself to art-making. Now, he dedicates most of his time to a compact studio within his garage in Portland, Oregon. Mitchell's life revolves entirely around his creative pursuits, working seven days a week to capture the beauty in the mundane.

Words that describe this painting: sunset, car, phone, desert, phone booth, California, Mojave, sky, cloud, landscape, modern , oil painting, blue

The Mojave Phone Booth
Mitchell Freifeld
Oil painting on stretched canvas
Finished black edges
Varnished and Ready to hang
One-of-a-kind
Signed on front and back
2023
15 in. h x 20 in. w x 1.5 in. d
0 lbs. 8 oz.