BONITA HELMER
CHANGE IN VELOCITY November 20, 2021 - January 1, 2022 Opening Reception: Saturday, November 20, 3-7pm |
PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
GBGLA is pleased to present Bonita Helmer: Change in Velocity, the gallery’s seventh solo exhibition of the Los Angeles based painter’s work. The exhibition features the newest body of work focused on the concept of change and continues through January 1st, 2022.
Artists are visionaries and have an uncanny awareness of societal undercurrents before the rest of the world is aware of them. Helmer’s last series, In the Midst of Chaos (2018), was a response to the intense discord in the world.. Her current series, Change in Velocity (2021), is a response to, and the product of, the enormous upheaval of the last two years. From the vantage point of hindsight, Helmer’s work has an almost eerily prescient view of the world. We were descending into a level of chaos that even artists could not have predicted. We find ourselves now, coming out of the chaos, but with the knowledge that things must change in order for humanity to move forward.
The triangle is a powerful symbol across disciplines - both scientific and spiritual. On a spiritual level, the triangle is connected to the highly symbolic number 3 and represents balance, the connection between mind, body and spirit, but also the desire for transcendence. In physics, the triangle, Delta (Greek alphabet - Δ) means change. Helmer found herself drawn to this form - both for its visual form and for what it represents - although triangles are not new in her work - they’ve been haunting the corners for many years. But during these recent difficult years, the triangle and all it represents has come to the forefront in her compositions. Juxtaposed against grounds that reference the macro (or the micro) universe, these forms are no longer grounded as they were in previous bodies of work, but float in space - they are free to guide the viewer into the depths of her paintings.
This new body of work speaks to how artists sense things in the universe. It speaks to the changes so necessary now - some forced by the pandemic and some by choice for humanity to do better. These paintings symbolizes the movement towards the light and spirit, and represents the journey humanity is on during this time of change.
Bonita Helmer received her BFA (Painting) from UCLA and Antioch University and did graduate work at Otis College of Art and Design. During graduate work at Otis, Helmer worked with Mitsumi Kanemitsu who became a strong influence in the use of abstraction in painting. Helmer also met and studied with Francoise Gilot at University of Southern California/Idyllwild campus. Gilot introduced Helmer to the use of universal symbol in art. Helmer was also inspired by a friendship with Dr. Jonas Salk who brought her an awareness of the relationship between science and art. Helmer studied the origins of the universe, physics, and astronomy at UCLA and continues her personal research into physics and mystical studies to this day.
Helmer’s work has been exhibited internationally including exhibitions at the Jerusalem Biennial; Museum Sonderjylland, Denmark; Kunstraum F200 galerie, Philip Johnston Bl. Berlin; MOCA, Beijing; a solo show at L’Espace Bateau Lavoir, L’Ecole des Arts Decoratifs in Paris; an official adjunct show as part of the MOCA Los Angeles, Whack retrospective of Women in Art; International Space Conference in Washington, DC.; Newport Harbor Art Museum (Orange County Museum of Art); Gallery Q, Tokyo; French Consulate/Alliance Francaise, Los Angeles; UCLA Dortort Center for the Arts, HUC Museum, NYU campus; Museum of Latin American Art (MOLAA). Helmer has also done paintings as set design for performance pieces, one co-produced by CalArts and the other in part by an NEA grant. In 2014 Helmer was invited to be on the board of the Exploration Institute which brings together astronauts, physicists, underwater researchers and more. She is the only "visual explorer" in the group of 35 participants. Helmer taught at Otis College Art and Design from 1998-2019. She lives and works in Los Angeles.
ARTIST STATEMENT 2022
“The knowledge of which geometry aims is the knowledge of the eternal“ PLATO
There are many references and symbols attached to the term Change in Velocity. There is an unseen structure and beauty to the term both scientifically and spiritually.
In physics, when used in an equation, change in velocity refers to various changes of speed, direction and distance. This equation is symbolically represented by the delta or triangle. The letter delta was used as far back as in the theories of Plato. Delta is a letter in the Greek alphabet and is the initial letter meaning difference.
On a spiritual level the triangle has many significant meanings in many cultures. A triangle is a simple shape but contains a profound meaning that symbolizes unity and balance as well as change. It is expressed differently in various religions but usually symbolizes a desire for transcendence. The triangle is an ancient symbol for a deity or the divine union. Pyramids and triangles formed by their three-sided shapes, can often symbolize the unity of mind, body, and spirit.
Presently we are in an era where we are finding that change is absolutely necessary for our survival as a planet and for a return to unity as a universal people. My last body of work was called In the Midst of Chaos. Now three years later, during this particular time in human history, I feel an intense desire to express the need to come out of the chaos and increase the change of velocity towards light and spirit. These paintings do not fully describe where we are going but hopefully symbolize the movement and longing for the direction of change.
In all of my work I try to bridge the gap in art, science and spirituality by bringing out the similarities. We find that science and spirituality do not exclude one another but work together to examine unseen structures in order to share the mysteries of our world. I often use geometric shapes in my work, along with natural flow and forms. The poured and flow forms represent nature while the geometrics refer to the human mind and the attempt to control nature. However, I have never concentrated completely on the triangle before this body of work. The reference to the delta or the triangle began intuitively but, after lots of research, I realized that there are no accidents. It is a symbol that I use to express the beauty, excitement, desire, and the need for Change in Velocity.
Artists are visionaries and have an uncanny awareness of societal undercurrents before the rest of the world is aware of them. Helmer’s last series, In the Midst of Chaos (2018), was a response to the intense discord in the world.. Her current series, Change in Velocity (2021), is a response to, and the product of, the enormous upheaval of the last two years. From the vantage point of hindsight, Helmer’s work has an almost eerily prescient view of the world. We were descending into a level of chaos that even artists could not have predicted. We find ourselves now, coming out of the chaos, but with the knowledge that things must change in order for humanity to move forward.
The triangle is a powerful symbol across disciplines - both scientific and spiritual. On a spiritual level, the triangle is connected to the highly symbolic number 3 and represents balance, the connection between mind, body and spirit, but also the desire for transcendence. In physics, the triangle, Delta (Greek alphabet - Δ) means change. Helmer found herself drawn to this form - both for its visual form and for what it represents - although triangles are not new in her work - they’ve been haunting the corners for many years. But during these recent difficult years, the triangle and all it represents has come to the forefront in her compositions. Juxtaposed against grounds that reference the macro (or the micro) universe, these forms are no longer grounded as they were in previous bodies of work, but float in space - they are free to guide the viewer into the depths of her paintings.
This new body of work speaks to how artists sense things in the universe. It speaks to the changes so necessary now - some forced by the pandemic and some by choice for humanity to do better. These paintings symbolizes the movement towards the light and spirit, and represents the journey humanity is on during this time of change.
Bonita Helmer received her BFA (Painting) from UCLA and Antioch University and did graduate work at Otis College of Art and Design. During graduate work at Otis, Helmer worked with Mitsumi Kanemitsu who became a strong influence in the use of abstraction in painting. Helmer also met and studied with Francoise Gilot at University of Southern California/Idyllwild campus. Gilot introduced Helmer to the use of universal symbol in art. Helmer was also inspired by a friendship with Dr. Jonas Salk who brought her an awareness of the relationship between science and art. Helmer studied the origins of the universe, physics, and astronomy at UCLA and continues her personal research into physics and mystical studies to this day.
Helmer’s work has been exhibited internationally including exhibitions at the Jerusalem Biennial; Museum Sonderjylland, Denmark; Kunstraum F200 galerie, Philip Johnston Bl. Berlin; MOCA, Beijing; a solo show at L’Espace Bateau Lavoir, L’Ecole des Arts Decoratifs in Paris; an official adjunct show as part of the MOCA Los Angeles, Whack retrospective of Women in Art; International Space Conference in Washington, DC.; Newport Harbor Art Museum (Orange County Museum of Art); Gallery Q, Tokyo; French Consulate/Alliance Francaise, Los Angeles; UCLA Dortort Center for the Arts, HUC Museum, NYU campus; Museum of Latin American Art (MOLAA). Helmer has also done paintings as set design for performance pieces, one co-produced by CalArts and the other in part by an NEA grant. In 2014 Helmer was invited to be on the board of the Exploration Institute which brings together astronauts, physicists, underwater researchers and more. She is the only "visual explorer" in the group of 35 participants. Helmer taught at Otis College Art and Design from 1998-2019. She lives and works in Los Angeles.
ARTIST STATEMENT 2022
“The knowledge of which geometry aims is the knowledge of the eternal“ PLATO
There are many references and symbols attached to the term Change in Velocity. There is an unseen structure and beauty to the term both scientifically and spiritually.
In physics, when used in an equation, change in velocity refers to various changes of speed, direction and distance. This equation is symbolically represented by the delta or triangle. The letter delta was used as far back as in the theories of Plato. Delta is a letter in the Greek alphabet and is the initial letter meaning difference.
On a spiritual level the triangle has many significant meanings in many cultures. A triangle is a simple shape but contains a profound meaning that symbolizes unity and balance as well as change. It is expressed differently in various religions but usually symbolizes a desire for transcendence. The triangle is an ancient symbol for a deity or the divine union. Pyramids and triangles formed by their three-sided shapes, can often symbolize the unity of mind, body, and spirit.
Presently we are in an era where we are finding that change is absolutely necessary for our survival as a planet and for a return to unity as a universal people. My last body of work was called In the Midst of Chaos. Now three years later, during this particular time in human history, I feel an intense desire to express the need to come out of the chaos and increase the change of velocity towards light and spirit. These paintings do not fully describe where we are going but hopefully symbolize the movement and longing for the direction of change.
In all of my work I try to bridge the gap in art, science and spirituality by bringing out the similarities. We find that science and spirituality do not exclude one another but work together to examine unseen structures in order to share the mysteries of our world. I often use geometric shapes in my work, along with natural flow and forms. The poured and flow forms represent nature while the geometrics refer to the human mind and the attempt to control nature. However, I have never concentrated completely on the triangle before this body of work. The reference to the delta or the triangle began intuitively but, after lots of research, I realized that there are no accidents. It is a symbol that I use to express the beauty, excitement, desire, and the need for Change in Velocity.
RETURN TO EXHIBITION
Billis Williams Gallery opened as George Billis Gallery Los Angeles in 2004. Tressa Williams joined as director in 2009 and became partner in 2021. Billis Williams Gallery builds on the Billis legacy and shows emerging to mid-career artists with a special focus on Southern California painters. The gallery is dedicated to exhibiting exceptional work in richly varied visual vocabularies ranging from abstraction to photorealism.
Billis Williams Gallery
2716 S. La Cienega Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90034
[email protected]
www.BillisWilliams.com
Billis Williams Gallery
2716 S. La Cienega Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90034
[email protected]
www.BillisWilliams.com