MIKE HELMS
ARTIST STATEMENT
My work examines the intersections of bodybuilding and performance through a masculine lens. Much like theater, the body builder is activated by staging. In an investigation of its history and a sampling of its theories, we can challenge the hyper- masculine identity which is supported through the gym culture and gender constructs. The arena of the gym contains cues contributing to the artworks listed, and the icons of the gym itself are brought into the studio to transform not only the objects, but the actions themselves. The work challenges the ideals surrounding the superhero, godlike persona cultivated through media tropes. These tropes can be damaging to the fluidity of gender performance as well as the male body image. To diminish ones bodily functionality for the sake of standards made by a dysfunctional culture creates a disparity between its health an appearance. While the strategies problematize the masculine identity, they bring frontally the body as a method of making. The outward, physical struggle between the artist and the object is similar to the internalized struggle of performing male. The task is designed to push the performer to his limits. The performance is based in truth and can be described as theatrical realism.
CV
Education
2015 MFA Washington University St. Louis
2013 BFA sculpture, Cleveland Institute of Art, 11441 East Cleveland, OH 44106 Bachelor in Fine Arts
2007-2009 Cuyahoga Community College, Parma OH
Awards/Grants
2013 Cleveland Museum of Art, Art Cares Second Place 2012 Museum of Contemporary Art, Art Cares First Place 2011 Laura Shapero Prize for
excellence in Sculpture
2011 Sallie Fishman Memorial Scholarship for Excellence in Sculpture 2011 John Jackson ’77 Memorial Scholarship
2009 Published in REFLECTIONS by the Seattle Community College 2009 Best Piece in show, Student Art Show Cuyahoga Community College
Exhibitions 2013
2015 Extraction From the Pure Essence of Power, Kemper Art Museum, 1 Brookings Dr, St. Louis, MO 63130
2014 First Year MFA show, The Des Lee Gallery, 1627 Washington Avenue, St. Louis, MO 63130
2013 Proof that 2=1: Parabola, The Des Lee Gallery, 1627 Washington Avenue, St. Louis, MO 63130
2013 LATITUDE/LONGITUDE Joan Hall Studio, 710 N 20th Street, St. Louis, MO 63130
2013 HEDGE Gallery W. 78th st. Galleries, Cleveland, OH “EIGHTHOURSRAW”
2013 MillerSchneider Gallery 16008 Waterloo Rd. Cleveland, OH 44110 "The Reign of Masculinity"
2013 Cleveland Museum of Art, Art Cares, Cleveland, OH
2013 The Reign of Masculinity, BFA Cleveland Institute of Art, OH 2013 Fantasia, Reinberger Gallery, Cleveland, OH
2012 Museum of Contemporary Art, Art Cares, Cleveland, OH
2012 Zygote, In-turn Show, Cleveland, OH
2012 Bright Winter Festival, Ohio City, Cleveland, OH
2011 Uncorked, Art Spot, Cleveland Heights, Cleveland, OH
2011 Kollective Gallery, Cleveland Heights, Cleveland, OH
2010 Sculpture Exhibition, Cleveland Institute of Art, Cleveland, OH 2009 VATe
Exhibition, Cleveland Institute of Art, Cleveland, OH 2009 Student Show,
Cuyahoga Community College, Parma, OH 2008 Student Show, Cuyahoga
Community College, Parma, OH 2007 Student Show, Cuyahoga Community College, Parma, OH
Experience / 2010- Present
Co-Teaching with Monika Weiss, Digital Filmmaking And City Stories Installer
Henrique Oliveria, Museum of Contemporary Art, Cleveland, OH Installer,
Barry Underwood, Museum of Contemporary Art, Cleveland, OH Installer,
Barry Underwood, Sculpture Center, Cleveland, OH Installer,
Sarah Kabot, Bright Winter Festival, Ohio City, Cleveland, OH Installer, SPACES Gallery, Cleveland, OH Installer,
Marty Geramita, 50/50 Show, Cleveland, OH Installer,
Hilary Aurand, Legation Gallery W 78th Street Studios, Cleveland, OH Installer,
Dott von Schneider, Legation Gallery W 78th Street Studios, Cleveland, OH
Commercial Experience
Finish carpentry
Drywall finisher
Plastering
Steel Stud Layout
Finish painter
Cement finishing
References
Monika Weiss
Professor at Washington University 1 Brookings Dr, St. louis, MO 63130
[email protected]
Barry Underwood
Professor, Head of Sculpture
Cleveland Institute of Art, 11141 East Blvd, Cleveland, OH 44113 [email protected]
Sarah Kabot
Professor, Head of Drawing Department
Cleveland Institute of Art, 11141 East Blvd, Cleveland, OH 44113
[email protected]
Lane Cooper
Professor, Head of Painting Department
Cleveland Institute of Art, 11141 East Blvd, Cleveland, OH 44113 [email protected]
Amber Kempthorn
Adjunct Faculty, Drawing, Cleveland Institute of Art, 11141 East Blvd, Cleveland, OH 44113
216.421.7000
[email protected]
ARTIST STATEMENT
My work examines the intersections of bodybuilding and performance through a masculine lens. Much like theater, the body builder is activated by staging. In an investigation of its history and a sampling of its theories, we can challenge the hyper- masculine identity which is supported through the gym culture and gender constructs. The arena of the gym contains cues contributing to the artworks listed, and the icons of the gym itself are brought into the studio to transform not only the objects, but the actions themselves. The work challenges the ideals surrounding the superhero, godlike persona cultivated through media tropes. These tropes can be damaging to the fluidity of gender performance as well as the male body image. To diminish ones bodily functionality for the sake of standards made by a dysfunctional culture creates a disparity between its health an appearance. While the strategies problematize the masculine identity, they bring frontally the body as a method of making. The outward, physical struggle between the artist and the object is similar to the internalized struggle of performing male. The task is designed to push the performer to his limits. The performance is based in truth and can be described as theatrical realism.
CV
Education
2015 MFA Washington University St. Louis
2013 BFA sculpture, Cleveland Institute of Art, 11441 East Cleveland, OH 44106 Bachelor in Fine Arts
2007-2009 Cuyahoga Community College, Parma OH
Awards/Grants
2013 Cleveland Museum of Art, Art Cares Second Place 2012 Museum of Contemporary Art, Art Cares First Place 2011 Laura Shapero Prize for
excellence in Sculpture
2011 Sallie Fishman Memorial Scholarship for Excellence in Sculpture 2011 John Jackson ’77 Memorial Scholarship
2009 Published in REFLECTIONS by the Seattle Community College 2009 Best Piece in show, Student Art Show Cuyahoga Community College
Exhibitions 2013
2015 Extraction From the Pure Essence of Power, Kemper Art Museum, 1 Brookings Dr, St. Louis, MO 63130
2014 First Year MFA show, The Des Lee Gallery, 1627 Washington Avenue, St. Louis, MO 63130
2013 Proof that 2=1: Parabola, The Des Lee Gallery, 1627 Washington Avenue, St. Louis, MO 63130
2013 LATITUDE/LONGITUDE Joan Hall Studio, 710 N 20th Street, St. Louis, MO 63130
2013 HEDGE Gallery W. 78th st. Galleries, Cleveland, OH “EIGHTHOURSRAW”
2013 MillerSchneider Gallery 16008 Waterloo Rd. Cleveland, OH 44110 "The Reign of Masculinity"
2013 Cleveland Museum of Art, Art Cares, Cleveland, OH
2013 The Reign of Masculinity, BFA Cleveland Institute of Art, OH 2013 Fantasia, Reinberger Gallery, Cleveland, OH
2012 Museum of Contemporary Art, Art Cares, Cleveland, OH
2012 Zygote, In-turn Show, Cleveland, OH
2012 Bright Winter Festival, Ohio City, Cleveland, OH
2011 Uncorked, Art Spot, Cleveland Heights, Cleveland, OH
2011 Kollective Gallery, Cleveland Heights, Cleveland, OH
2010 Sculpture Exhibition, Cleveland Institute of Art, Cleveland, OH 2009 VATe
Exhibition, Cleveland Institute of Art, Cleveland, OH 2009 Student Show,
Cuyahoga Community College, Parma, OH 2008 Student Show, Cuyahoga
Community College, Parma, OH 2007 Student Show, Cuyahoga Community College, Parma, OH
Experience / 2010- Present
Co-Teaching with Monika Weiss, Digital Filmmaking And City Stories Installer
Henrique Oliveria, Museum of Contemporary Art, Cleveland, OH Installer,
Barry Underwood, Museum of Contemporary Art, Cleveland, OH Installer,
Barry Underwood, Sculpture Center, Cleveland, OH Installer,
Sarah Kabot, Bright Winter Festival, Ohio City, Cleveland, OH Installer, SPACES Gallery, Cleveland, OH Installer,
Marty Geramita, 50/50 Show, Cleveland, OH Installer,
Hilary Aurand, Legation Gallery W 78th Street Studios, Cleveland, OH Installer,
Dott von Schneider, Legation Gallery W 78th Street Studios, Cleveland, OH
Commercial Experience
Finish carpentry
Drywall finisher
Plastering
Steel Stud Layout
Finish painter
Cement finishing
References
Monika Weiss
Professor at Washington University 1 Brookings Dr, St. louis, MO 63130
[email protected]
Barry Underwood
Professor, Head of Sculpture
Cleveland Institute of Art, 11141 East Blvd, Cleveland, OH 44113 [email protected]
Sarah Kabot
Professor, Head of Drawing Department
Cleveland Institute of Art, 11141 East Blvd, Cleveland, OH 44113
[email protected]
Lane Cooper
Professor, Head of Painting Department
Cleveland Institute of Art, 11141 East Blvd, Cleveland, OH 44113 [email protected]
Amber Kempthorn
Adjunct Faculty, Drawing, Cleveland Institute of Art, 11141 East Blvd, Cleveland, OH 44113
216.421.7000
[email protected]