Contemporary Sculptors of Chicago: Mike Helbing..

Flame patinaed stainless steel sculpture..


Work in progress.. Developing a concept for the National Vietnam Veterans Museum ..

Continuing with my series on Contemporary Sculptors of Chicago..
Here's Mike Helbing..
Mike has served the US Army in Vietnam.. After returning, he studied art at Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana.
Here's artist statement from his website..click here..
Much of my sculpture involves found objects, primarily stainless steel. The ready-made object carries with it a social understanding that is used and modified to give new meaning. I find these ready-mades many places; junk yards, industrial factories, second hand shops, the side of the road, mostly anywhere. The hunter/gatherer instinct is satisfied by this search for materials. I then sort, pile and group these things. Much as writers form thoughts that grow into stories using words, my found objects are analogous to language, these objects are reassembled to create new meaning . The things I collect are rearranged and modified, cut and attached, grouped, bent, reduced, chipped, welded, ground, assembled and polished. This presents the familiar in a new light, causing the everyday to be looked at with new wonder. My influences and interests range from the naturalistic to the scientific, the art macrocosm to the world of the spirit. My art examines my place in my world and invites visitor to come along and share the journey of discovery...




Maquette for large-scale installation, "Beautiful Storm"..


Marquette for another of his large-scale installation..


Mike is particularly interested in making Fountains.. His studio has a lot of pines and large stainless steel tubs, that can be used as base for fountains..






Mike has a very rich body of work, and a few images of scale models and maquettes from his studio, does not do justice to his work. It just provide a glimpse into his style.. Hopefully, I will be able to take images of his large-scale outdoor installations in the coming days..


Boyan Marinov, Terrence Karpowicz and Mike Helbing..
I am always impressed at how close-knit the sculptor community in Chicago is... While I was at Mike's Studio, my dear friend Terrence Karpowicz dropped by..




Here's one of Mike's temporary outdoor installations, "Running Down, Out to Pasture", as a part of Magnificient Mile, Refrigerator Art, 2010..

Related Links..
Contemporary Sculptors of Chicago..
My FB Album on Mike Helbing..