User:Helen Schell

Helen Schell - Visual Artist & Educator.

Space Agency - Art & Science.

Brief Outline -

For 6 years, Helen Schell has worked on art projects inspired by space exploration and phenomena of the cosmos. This involves collaborating with scientists and often takes the form of installations and projects called 'laboratories'. These are created for unusual sites under the auspices of Space Agency. This work started in 2007 whilst doing an MA in Glass at Sunderland University in the north east of England. Since then, she has collaborated with scientists in the field of astrophysics and cosmology including doing a residency in 2010 at Durham University's Ogden Centre for Fundamental Physics, where she created the components for a Space-Time Laboratory, making quasi contraptions, artefacts and souvenirs from imagined 'off world travels'. This included The Kathedra: a Space-Time Throne, to enable you to travel across the Universe. These Space Agency artworks are often ironic and humorous. This exciting residency afforded her the opportunity to meet space shuttle astronauts and get them to draw pictures. She also visited the UK Dark Matter Laboratory in Boulby mine. Since then, she has participated in, and initiated space themed projects, using science facts to invent unusual imagery and objects. She is a STEM Ambassador and promotes these subjects using art & design as a facility to open minds to exciting scientific information and in particular space.

Recently, she has worked on several projects with Durham University’s outreach department, and in 2012 on a collaborative costume project called Undress: Redress. The aim of this was to create a programme of exhibitions and community workshops exploring Smart Materials and clever clothing by making unusual and experimental costumes for public display. This brought together Durham University's NETPark outreach, Science Learning Centre NE, and Arts Centre Washington for display at the Newcastle Science Festival. She designed and made 3 dramatic ball-gowns; UN-Dress This costume is a flamboyant ball gown made from Monosol M8630, a PVOH thermoplastic film which dissolves in water. It is the same material that is used for dish washer capsules. Rocket Dress This costume is also made from dissolving thermoplastic and felt fabrics. The rocket imagery is part of an on-going series of work about astrophysics and space engineering. The Dazzle Dress This is made from Hi Vis safety jackets which created a futuristic and unusual ball gown which reflects back light in different circumstances. A gown for the Queen of the Moon!

Over 2012, she has been working a project examining ideas about human colonisation of space, and in particular the Moon – Make It to the Moon. This was created whilst Maker in Residence at the Centre for Life, Newcastle. The project has included residencies, exhibitions, and children's workshops, and went to the Science Museum in London for an Olympic promotion event. As well as the education work, she created a series of artworks, Moon-shot: First Woman on the Moon, which has 3 large paintings on canvas -10.5m high Moon Rocket (10.5m high), Full Moon (3m x 3m), and Lunar Space Station (4m x 3m). There are also quasi artefacts, moon glasses, lunar observatories, and Moon rock simulant to go in the pseudo lunar laboratory.

Over 2013 & 2014, she is working on Heavenly Bodies – The Human Space, exploring ideas and making art about how the human body could survive in space in the context of colonisation. The project questions our ability to survive and thrive in the hostile environment of space. The aim is to work with scientists in the field of biomedical studies, enabling her to investigate the effects of zero/micro gravity, radiation, psychological, and other circumstances. Can we live off planet Earth and develop colonies either on man-made or natural satellites. Is it realistic to think we can exist there for long periods and procreate in these places? Can we ‘go forth and multiply’? Is our compulsion for space exploration programmed into us, being that we are made from stardust?

Background Information – Space Exploration Projects.

Solo Shows.

2013 -      Observatory, (Very Large Book), Book Art, Gateshead Central Library, Festival of the North East, UK. 2012 -      Undress: Redress, (Smart Costumes), Eldon Square Shopping Centre, Newcastle. UK. 2011 -      The 11th Dimension, (Glass Installation), NewBridge Open Studio, Newcastle. UK. 2010 -      Space-Time Laboratory, (Installation), Ogden Centre, Durham University. UK. 2010 -      Escape Velocity – Space Agency, NEFA, Stephenson Works, Newcastle. UK. 2009 -      The 11th Dimension, (Glass installation), Durham Cathedral. UK. 2009 -      Rocket Project2, (Drawings), Centre for Life, Newcastle, UK. 2009 -      I Make Time Machines, (Drawings), Tron Theatre, Glasgow, Scotland. 2009 -      Rocket Project - Escape Velocity, Aardman Animations Ltd, Bristol. UK. 2008 -      Escape Velocity (Installation & drawings), St Michael’s Church, Newcastle, UK.

Awards, Commissions, Residencies. 2013 -      Moon Rocket, (Residency & Exhibition), Drawn Together, WMF, Hexham Abbey & Durham Cathedral. Festival of the North East. UK. 2013 -      Space Agency, Space Diaries, (Residency). Gateshead Central Library, Festival of the North East. UK. 2012 -      Make It to the Moon, Institute of Physics Grant, NE Region for Celebrate Science, Durham. UK. 2012 -      UN-Dress, Virion Screen Based Projections, Shopping Centres & Public Sites, Australia. 2012 -      Make It to the Moon, Exhibition of Dazzle Dress & Workshops, Make It in GB,Science Museum, London,UK. 2012 -      Make It to the Moon, Artist/Maker in Residence, Centre for Life, Newcastle, UK. 2012 -      Undress: Redress, (Smart Materials Costume Commission), NETPark, Durham University, Science Learning Centre NE, Arts Centre Washington. UK. 2011 -      Lunar Laboratory, (Residency), Meltdowns Studios, Ramsgate. UK. 2010 -      Space Agency, (Residency), Ogden Centre for Physics, Durham University. UK.

Educational Projects

2013 – First Woman on the Moon, Convention Newspaper Article. Trip to the Moon, Framwellgate School, Pity Me. 2012 – Humans in Space, Judge for NASA children's art competition, International On-line Project. Celebrate Science, Durham.2012 – Make It to The Moon, Make It in GB, Science Museum, London. Gromit Workshop, Aardman outreach project. Northumberland. STEM Space & Smart Costume workshops for schools, North East region. Make It to The Moon, Centre for Life workshops, Newcastle. Costume workshops, Nifties & Remix, Arts Centre Washington. 2011 – Engineering Roadshow, 5 Derwentside Schools. Space School, Lunar Habitat Workshop, University of Kent. Big Bang Schools Science Competition, Project Judge, Durham New College. Space ESERO UK, Centre for Life, Newcastle. Space-Time Laboratory, NETPark & Durham University at Science Festival, Newcastle. STEM Ambassador. Techno Roadshow Workshops, Stanley. 2010 – Engineering Road Show. DEA, Schools project, Derwentside.

Artworks and further information online - http://thenewbridgeproject.com/artists-5/p-t/helen-schell/  NewBridge Studios site. http://virion2012.com.au/submission/protective-eyewear-space-time-laboratory Screen Based Art, Australia. http://virion2012.com.au/submission/undressredress  Screen Based Art Public Event, Australia – Costumes. http://www.cmog.org/bio/helen-schell   Corning Museum of Glass Residency site.