Dr. Andrea Hellman did her undergraduate work at József Attila University in her native Hungary and earned a doctor of education degree in language, literacy and cultural studies from Boston University.
Hellman is an associate professor in the English Department at Missouri State University, where she works with multilingual families and their teachers, and has published several works on teaching English learners.
That's only part of her story. Hellman is also an accomplished artist. You can see her first solo show at the Historic Holland Building during the Nov. 3 First Friday Art Walk.
The Holland Building is one of 18 venues open for Art Walk, a monthly effort in which galleries and businesses line up arts-related events across downtown Springfield. Everyone is encouraged to walk around the neighborhood and pop into galleries in what organizers call a “self-guided tour.” Venues will be open for variable hours between 5 and 10 p.m.
Curiosity inspires Hellman’s digital brush strokes
Hellman began drawing and painting as a child in Hungary. As an adult in the United States, she studied for a decade at the School of the Worcester Art Museum in Massachusetts, learning watercolor, mixed media, lithography, etching and oil painting, and enriching her artistic perspective.
A member of Fresh Gallery in Springfield, Hellman calls her art a “digital brushwork experiment that expresses warmth and connectedness.”
“My current projects reflect my love of discovery and play,” Hellman said in a press release. “Curiosity drives me to create vibrant experiments with color palettes, intriguing shapes, light patterns, varied lines and dynamic compositions, all created with my vast image library and texture brush collection.”
That curiosity permeates her work. She asks questions like “What if a dancer’s entire movement could be captured in a single frame?” and “What if flowers could melt or deer could take on human form?”
“These inquiries generate captivating visuals,” she said. “Now that I live in the picturesque Ozarks, I find inspiration in the thriving arts community and the wondrous natural beauty that surrounds me. Inspired by other artists, actors, poets, writers, musicians and dancers, I aim to capture fleeting moments of pure pleasure.”
To find Hellman’s work, enter the lobby of the Holland Building (205 Park Central East) on the south side and take the elevator or stairs to the second floor. The exhibit will be open from 6-8 p.m.
Start thinking about the holidays at Gailey’s Breakfast Cafe, Artistic Photography
Halloween is over and winter holiday commercials are already playing, so it’s not too early to start thinking about holiday gifts. With that in mind, Gailey’s Breakfast Cafe (220 E. Walnut St.) is opening its “Under $150 Exhibit,” with receptions during the November and December Art Walks, from 4:30-7 p.m.
The exhibition showcases original artworks by:
- Amy Asher
- Nancy Day
- Glee Kirby
- Steve Maguire
- Joellen Mittlestadt
- Leisa Rowley
- Carol Sineo
- Carol Snyder
- Jeanene Turney
The artwork will be available through Jan. 1, 2024.
Artistic Photography at the Monarch Art Factory (600 W. College St.) is showing off fine art portraiture of the dogs from the Bark Yard for this month’s Art Walk. Guests are invited to bring their furry friends and grab a glass of wine while they learn about holiday specials and book photoshoots.
New Alleyscapes makes its debut behind Hotel Vandivort
Joshua Albers is this month’s featured artist for Sculpture Walk Springfield’s Alleycapes, which projects video art pieces from sunset to midnight in the “backstage alley” behind Hotel Vandivort and the Landers Theatre. The installation is accessible via Robberson Alley. Albers’ piece is entitled “Arbor.”
“(Albers) uses computers to poke at how reality is perceived, with a particular emphasis on how experiences are shaped by motion through time,” a press release said. “In his recent work, he combines and manipulates 3D scans from daily life to create abstract, non-narrative videos.”
Previous work by Albers has been included in Supernova 7th Dimensions, /’fu:bar/, Glitch.Art.Br, and Pixels Fest. Albers teaches computer animation and digital fabrication as associate professor of art at Missouri State University. He holds a BFA from MSU and an MFA in new media arts from the University of Illinois at Chicago.
Take a ‘Tour of the Globe’ with Missouri State’s International Programs
The public is invited to uncover hidden gems during the “Tour of the Globe,” presented annually by MSU’s International Programs. The event will be held inside the Jim D. Morris Center (301 S. Jefferson Ave.).
International students will share sights and experiences from their hometowns all around the world. This cultural bazaar includes food, games and music, and is free to the public.
Other venues for November’s First Friday Art Walk are:
- BookMarx, 325 E. Walnut St., Ste. 101
- Brick City Gallery, 215 W. Mill St.
- The Robert & Margaret Carolla Arts Exhibition Center, 326 N. Boonville Ave.
- Drury University Pool Art Center Gallery, 940 N. Clay Ave.
- Formed: An Artist Collective, 210 E. Walnut St.
- Forming Art Studios, 330 South Ave.
- Hold Fast Brewing, 235 N. Kimbrough Ave.
- Hotel Vandivort, 305 E. Walnut St.
- J.L. Long Traders, 318 W. Walnut St.
- Obelisk Home, 214 W. Phelps St., Ste. 101
- Park Central Branch Library, 128 Park Central Square
- Springfield Regional Arts Council at the Creamery Arts Center, 411 N. Sherman Parkway
- Transformation Gallery & Tattoo, 330 E. Walnut St.
For more information, visit the official First Friday Art Walk website, or find them on Facebook.
