Susanna and Mark Helman

Weatherscapes

Opening reception: Saturday, November 5, 4-7pm
On view: November 5- December 17, 2016 in the alt_space gallery

Artists Statement
In their series Weatherscapes, contemporary artists Susanna and Mark Helman use both static and kinetic lightboxes to explore how the natural elements of changing weather impact various land- and sea- scapes. Inspired by Op Art and sculpture from the Bauhaus movement, these hand-made, back-lit lightbox environments use hundreds of lights, each one hand-soldered to create a custom light panel. Then, using paper, colored plastic and, in some cases, motors, Susanna and Mark explore and visually translate a range of elements such as fog, rain, sunshine, wind and snow.

 
About the Artists
Susanna Richter Helman and Mark Helman are both Colorado natives that are now living and working out of St. Augustine, Florida.  Both attended Metropolitan State University in Denver, Colorado with Susanna completing a B.A. in Art History and Mark majoring in Fine Art, with a minor in Philosophy.  Since 2009, they have exhibited collaboratively in numerous exhibitions, having been featured in group and solo exhibitions at venues such as the New York Art Expo (3 years), Jacksonville Museum of Contemporary Art (Jacksonville, FL), the William Havu Gallery (Denver, CO), Setford & Bridges Gallery (Miami, FL and Santa Fe, NM), and the Lurie Gallery (Los Angeles, CA).  Their artwork also appears in numerous private and corporate collections including the University of North Florida Library Permanent Collection, Flagler Hospital Center for Caring Community Hospice, Merrill Lynch, Pfizer Pharmaceutical and SAFT Batteries.

 Sample images from the exhibition:

Blue Current backlit collage, paper and lights 10 x 23 x 6 inches	Twister II kinetic backlit collage, paper, motor and lights 7 x 22 x 7 inches
Forest I backlit collage, paper and lights 6 x 5 x 6 inches	Wind backlit collage, paper & lights 6 x 5 x 6 inches

Installation View	Winter  mixed media collage 14 x 48 x 8 inches