Rahab Mitchell

          Hello! My name is Rahab Mitchell. I grew up in North Little Rock , Arkansas where I attended Carter G. Woodson Elementary School. I have always loved oratory, history, child play, nature, acting, singing, dancing and the fine arts. As a young child, I memorized the tunes of Ella Fitzgerald, Nat King Cole, James Brown, all of Motown, Broadway tunes... you name it! Later, I attended New York University (NYU) in Washington Square Park,  the famous Village! There, I inhaled the lingering energy of all the great writers: Langston Hughes, James Baldwin and Paul Lawrence Dunbar. I relished the works of Alice Childress, Lorraine Hansberry, Ntozake Shange, and Ida B. Wells. I even found my way to Chicago to meet Alfreda Duster, Ida B.'s biographer and daughter.

          When I returned to Los Angeles, I appeared in a one woman show on the life of Zora Neale Hurston. Researching her life inspired me to delve further into African American folklore and storytelling. I began my journey as a solo performance artist delighting young audiences as a contract artist with the county of Los Angeles Libraries (children's department). There I delighted K-12 students and their families with my theatrical production entitled Grandma Sally's Back Porch. I traveled throughout the Los Angeles County Library System dressed as a lovable turn-of-the-last century grandma, spinning folktales and encouraging literacy and book lending.

          I have been a teacher, tutor, special education reading assistant (dyslexia), and activities director. I love animals and spent ten years working in veterinary medicine as an animal care nurse. I’ve written, produced and hosted 14 cable television shows and founded Jawbone Hill Community Theatre. My artistic endeavors are not limited to performance. I have also created visual art in various forms including fiber/textiles, weaving, quilting, digital, design, acrylic, pen, pastels, charcoal, and mixed media. For me, art is neither a profession nor a hobby. Art is a way of being!