Mitchell A. Markovitz, whose unique career path traveled from Chicago to South Bend, first as a South Shore train conductor and in later years as a prolific vintage-style oils and watercolor artist and illustrator, died at age 75 on Tuesday at his home in Knox.
Markovitz had a talent celebrated for decades for his homespun approach to capturing landscapes and key destinations from his keen eye’s artistic interpretation. With his attention to detail and love of local history, Markovitz was a natural choice in 1998 for the branding campaign relaunch and continuation of the beloved South Shore Line poster series.
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“As the lead artist in the Northwest Indiana Forum’s revived South Shore poster campaign resurrected in the mid-1990s, Mitch Markovitz helped to create an attractive and very effective brand for communities along Lake Michigan’s south shore,” John Cain, director emeritus of South Shore Arts and Northwest Indiana Symphony, recalled Friday afternoon.
“His images of people, organizations, businesses and industry portrayed our region as an attractive place to live, and continue to promote it as a destination well worth the visit.”
Surrounded by much promotion and pageantry, John Davies, leader of the Northwest Indiana Forum at the time, announced in 1996 plans to “harness the power of the past” for a project to release what would be 19 new South Shore poster prints as part of its $1 million campaign to promote the region.
The original series of posters, created more than 70 years ago for the same reason, was a print promotional campaign that had been discontinued in 1929.
Markovitz, with his dual drive as both an artist and history enthusiast with a 16-year history “riding the rails” and working for the South Shore Line, was perfect for the title of “founding artist and director” for the new poster series.
“I’ve studied these posters for so long, it is actually becoming easier for me to create the images for the new posters I’ve commissioned to do,” Markovitz said in a recent interview.
“Ensuring the integrity and consistency of each poster is a huge responsibility, since these posters must display images that will evoke emotions.”
Assembled with Markovitz at the time of the poster campaign relaunch were other accomplished artists for the project, such as John Rush of Evanston, Illinois, and Alan Larkin of South Bend.
Among the first themed posters Markovitz created in 1997, using techniques his father, a career printer, taught him, were titled “Seasons Greetings,” “Our Standard: the Whiting Refinery,” “Nation’s Lifeline,” “Bed and Breakfast,” “Valparaiso University,” “South Shore Freight,” “Indiana Northcoast” and “Whiting Library.”
Markovitz always admitted he had to strike a balance of patience, input and artistic interpretation when working with companies and organizations paying for the underwriting and sponsorship of posters, so themes, images and sketches melded perfectly.
At the time of the relaunch three decades ago, poster sponsorship was a $6,000 investment. Today, the cost is $10,000 to commission a new poster, and Markovitz was still an active artist for recent poster projects.
“We worked closely with Mitch when he did our poster, inspired by our tree logo just two years ago,” said Donna Catalano, who retired earlier this year as outreach and engagement manager for Legacy Foundation Inc. in Merrillville.
“He was a very dedicated artist who cared, and that translated into the art and imaginative images he created.”
In 2024, he was awarded the Sagamore of the Wabash, Indiana’s highest honor bestowed by the governor as a personal tribute given to those who have rendered distinguished service to the state or to the governor. Among those who have received Sagamores have been astronauts, presidents, ambassadors, musicians, and politicians who have contributed greatly to Hoosier heritage.
“South Shore Arts is deeply saddened by the passing of artist Mitch Markovitz, whose creativity and vision helped to shape the region’s artistic identity through his prolific work with the South Shore Line Posters Series,” South Shore Arts Gallery Manager Brandon Johnson said Friday afternoon.
“Markovitz had a distinctive style and played an important role in the series’ revival during the 1990s. South Shore Arts commissioned two posters from Markovitz; the originals proudly hang in the South Shore Arts offices. South Shore Arts extend heartfelt condolences to Markovitz’s family, friends, and the many artists and admirers whose lives he touched. His legacy will continue to inspire future generations, and his contributions to the arts in Northwest Indiana will not be forgotten.”
Markovitz is survived by his wife Renee and their two adult children, Julia and Matt, who also live in Northwest Indiana. Funeral arrangements are still pending.
Philip Potempa is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.