Join artist Rachel Hellmann for a discussion of her studio practice and approach to painting and explore her new exhibition Shelter on view in Eskenazi Hall.

ABOUT THE ARTIST

Indianapolis-based multi-disciplinary artist Rachel Hellmann is known for her ongoing series of meticulously-crafted geometric sculptures and paintings. Working both three-dimensionally and on paper, the resulting forms explore the way in which the viewer’s perception is disoriented by the distorted sense of gravity caused by the careful interplay of geometry, light, and color.

ABOUT THE EXHIBITION

Shelter speaks to the comfort, predictability and intimacy of activity in the home. In this series, Hellmann creates paintings out of dura-lar, fabric, felt, and yarn that are influenced by both architecture and textile. Differing levels of transparency and a variety of surface textures modulate light and space.

Hellmann’s use of mending, repairing, and layering serves as a metaphor for the act of caregiving. Mending and layering also serve as reminders that no project is completely finished and that each piece of the action—whether a stitch, a loose thread, or a moment where paint bleeds through—is an event and a story in itself.

Of the series Hellman notes, “I am particularly drawn to the density, complexity and thoughtfulness of light and shadow in the quarter inch depth of surface. Stories are embedded into the stone and created with immense care and attention. While my work is not narrative in nature, I view the language of the hand as a form of nonverbal communication that is passed down generations similar to that of story-telling. The sewn paintings that I have created occupy a shallow visual space while maintaining a relationship with sculpture.”

PARKING INFORMATION

Parking is free in the Sports Complex Garage adjacent to Eskenazi Hall or on levels 5 and 6 of the Riverwalk Garage, courtesy of The Great Frame Up, with validation from the galleries.