Hélène Farrar, Teaching Artist
In my fifteen plus years working with public, private schools and universities, I have developed a strong understanding of the needs of learners from the novice to the professional. My early years as an art student with a formal focus on Art Education and years of Professional Development, formed a structure and foundation for my teaching and philosophy. I have developed a unique perspective with my return into a variety of classroom settings as being a “Teaching Artist”.
I am deeply passionate about art, and I am deeply passionate about working with individuals to inspire ways of interpreting ideas and seeing a different view. My work as a teaching artist encourages a unique level of individuality, creates a safe and trusted learning environment for the creation of authentic work, and reciprocates a positive and energetic relationship where the Artist and Teaching Artist together create the “teaching”.
Some of my work as a teaching artist has included: using art process as a vehicle for healing with nurses and lawyers, creating self portraits in encaustic paint as a way to explore identity with youths, learning to see geometric forms and drawing woodland critters into finished two dimensional works and relief, textual sculptures, looking at interpreting outdoor landscapes and creating and creating artist books, reading together the book “The Deer Man” that I illustrated and discussing the process of its creation and leading young artists in an art project related to, and working with children to explore a sense of place through execution of watercolors and storytelling.
Hélène’s work as an teaching artists has brought her across the state of Maine and New England. She is a formal teaching artist for the Farnsworth Art Museum. She has also taught at Maine’s Haystack Mountain School of Crafts, Waterfall Arts, Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens, and Waterville Creates. Her teaching has also brought her as far as Sedona, Arizona, the International Encaustics Conference in Provincetown, Massachusetts, and art retreats in Tuscany, Italy.
If you are interested in hiring Hélène to teach in your school or organization, please reach out to her directly here. Hélène’s rates can vary depending on location or request but general rates for an all day commitment is $400.
About the Studio
In 2014, Farrar purchased an 1850's Farmhouse for a working and teaching studio on busy Route 202 in Manchester, Maine. The house has been renovated since and houses four teaching and working studios, including Farrar's personal work space. Classes at the studio are offered weekly and approximately forty children ranging from four to nineteen attend these. Classes for adults are also offered including weekly watercolor and individual studies in encaustic, acrylic, and oil painting. Approximately fifteen adults participate in weekly classes in addition to offerings in Paint Nights formats, retreats and parties for individuals and corporate needs, and private lessons. The studio boasts gorgeous south facing light, original architectural elements, and an original “home” feeling that makes for a spirit lifting work space.
The Farmhouse studio is a shared creative space with Farrar's inventor husband, Stan. Stan is the creator of many inventions, one of which has become locally known as ComposiMold. Check out www.composimold.com or you can learn more about his other exciting projects and his company at www.wizbeinnovations.com.
Photo by Allison McKeen
Resume
(Last Updated June 2023)
Hélène Farrar, Artist
903 Western Avenue
Manchester, Maine 04351
(207) 485 - 5691
helene@helenefarrar.com
www.HeleneFarrar.com
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EDUCATION
M.F.A. in Interdisciplinary Arts 2005, Goddard College, Plainfield, Vermont
B.A. in Studio Art 1998, with a focus on Art Education, University of Maine, Orono, Maine
SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2022 “What We Carry” Curated By Nancy Davidson, Maine Jewish Museum, Portland, ME 04101
2017 “What We Carry” Emery Art Center, University of Maine Farmington, ME
2015 “Birdworks” Center for Maine Craft Gallery, West Gardiner Travel Plaza, Gardiner, ME
2013 “By A Maine Pond: One Year of Seeing” Loomis Gallery, Mansfield University, Mansfield, PA
2011 “From Across the Sea: Journal Paintings of England and Italy" Flat Iron Gallery, Portland, ME
“Reveal / Conceal: Unusual Conversations With The Landscape” Blue Gallery, Bowdoin College, Brunswick,
ME
2011 “Birdworks & Friends” The Gallery at The Clown, York, ME
2009 "Landscape Explorations" L.L. Bean Showroom, Freeport, ME
2008 “Seeking Stories: Paintings in Oil, Wax & Water” Cerulean Fine Art Gallery, Hallowell, ME
“From Italy To Paint” Three Graces Gallery, Portsmouth, NH
2005 “What My Mother Taught Me” The Gallery at the Clown, Portland, ME “Landscape Speaks,” The Gallery at the Clown, Belfast, ME
2004 “Painted Secrets“ Aries Gallery, Portland, ME
2000 “Hallowell Visions” 132 Water Street, Hallowell, ME Selected Group & Juried Exhibitions
Selected Group Exhibitions
2022 “Relationships: Hot, Cold and Intricate” Curated by Alison Crites, Southern Vermont Arts Center,
Manchester, VT
“Diptych Project” International Encaustics Conference, Provincetown, MA
2021 “Walls” Curated by Gails Stavitsky, Holocaust and Human Rights Center and Museum of Maine,
Augusta, ME
2020 “Layering: The Art of Hot and Cold Wax” Curated by Craig Bloodgood, Cotuit Center for the Arts, Cotuit, MA
2019 “Fusion: Encaustic Works” Higgins Gallery, Cape Cod Community College, West Barnstable, MA
2018 “Abstractions: Three Artists” Avon Street Gallery, Portland, ME
“Considering Place” Lakeside Contemporary Gallery, Rangeley, ME
“Trees” Betts Gallery, Belfast, ME
“New Landscapes” Archipelago Gallery, Rockland, ME 2017
“CSA II” Community Supported Arts and Agriculture, Maine Farmland Trust Gallery, the Harlow Gallery and The Engine, ME
“Chaos and Order II” Creative Arts Workshop, New Haven, Conn
“Light Source” Cynthia Winings Gallery, Blue Hill, ME
“Riff-Raff: Re-Imagined Art From Unexpected Places” Granite Gallery, St George, ME
“Shifts: Approaching Encaustic From All Angles” Juror Ben Shattuck, Fuller Craft Museum, Brockton, MA
2016 “Vision & Verse” Curated by Anne Zill, University of New England Art Gallery, Portland, ME (painting
honorably mentioned and featured selected)
“Balancing Acts” Curated by Debra Claffey, Twiggs Gallery, Boscawen, NH
“The Pine Tree Statement: Re-Imagining Maine's Iconography” Curated by the Autus Collective, The Engine Gallery, Biddeford, ME
“Beneath the Surface” Curated by Ron Crusan of the Ogunquit Museum of Art, Saco Museum, Saco, ME
2015 “Nature / Nurture” Stable Gallery, Damariscotta, ME
2014 “Abide With Me” Cynthia Winings Gallery, Blue Hill, ME “52nd CCNS Art Exhibition” Featured Artist,
Norwalk, Conn
2013 “Art. Works.” “Paste and Pages” Harlow Gallery, Hallowell, ME
“Art 2013” Curated by Bob Keyes and Daniel Kany, Recipient of the Juror’s Award by Daniel Kany, Harlow
Gallery, Hallowell, ME
2012 “Fuse” Harlow Gallery, Hallowell, ME
"Painting Invitational" Curated by Andy Verzosa, Aucocisco Gallery, Portland, ME
"Whimsy In Wax" Essex Art Center, Lawrence, MA
2011 “Wax In Motion” Bowersock Gallery, Provincetown, MA.
2010 “N.E.W. at the Fairfield Art Council” Fairfield Arts Council, Fairfield, Conn.
“Teeny Tiny Art Show” Three Graces Gallery, Portsmouth, NH
“Unpinned: The Abstract Response”, Cerulean Fine Art Gallery, Hallowell, ME
2009 “Considerations of Place” Three-person show, Cerulean Fine Art Gallery, Hallowell, ME
“Ancient Medium, NEW Terrain” Art Complex Museum, Duxbury, MA
“Teenie Tiny Art Show” Three Graces Gallery, Portsmouth, NH
“Cerulean Collective 2009” Cerulean Fine Art Gallery, Hallowell, ME
2008 “Invitational I & II” Cerulean Fine Art Gallery, Hallowell, ME
“Teeny Tiny Art Show” Three Graces Gallery, Portsmouth, NH
“Black Frame Show” Grapheteria Gallery, Portland, ME 2007
“Gallery Artists” Cooper Jackson Gallery, Portland, ME
“Black Frame Show” Grapheteria Gallery, Portland, ME
“Recent Landscapes: Jan ter Weele and Hélène Farrar” Wine Cellar Art Gallery, Ellsworth
“Objects With Meaning” Three Graces Gallery, Portsmouthy, NH
“Love: Public Displays of Affection”,Gallery 42, University of the District of Colombia, Wash.D.C.
“Animals in Art”, The Gallery at the Clown, Portland, ME
“Biennial Faculty Art Exhibition”’ Danforth Gallery, University of Maine at Augusta, Augusta, ME
2006 “Black Frame Art Show”, Portland Architectural Salvage, Portland, ME
“The Figure”, The Gallery at The Clown, Portland, ME
“XX, Women Faculty of UMA” Harlow Gallery, Hallowell, ME
BIBLIOGRPAHY
The Forecaster. “Art Takes Over South Portland Park” August 14, 2018
http://www.theforecaster.net/art-takes-over-south-portland-park/
Miller, Michelle. Hero Media Arts, Pioneers
http://heromediaarts.com/2017/09/06/helene-farrar-artist-and-art-educator-v2/
2017 AP. Turner Publishing, “Waterville Public Art Effort Begins With Wheat Paste Installations”
http://www.turnerpublishing.net/news/2017/07/19/waterville-public-art-effort-beginswith-wheat-paste-installatio
ns/
Roberts-Camello, Stephanie “Member Interview: Helene Farrar” New England Wax
http://belowthesurfaceblog.com/member-interview-helene-farrar/
2017 Claffey, Debra. “From the Curator, Balancing Acts With Helene Farrar”
2016
http://debraclaffey.com/2016/07/31/from-the-curator-balancing-acts-with-helene-farrar/
Bedell, Micky. “An Unexcpected Use of Beeswax: Paint” Made In Maine, Bangor Daily News
2016
http://bedell.bangordailynews.com/2016/08/22/home/helene-encaustic/ Keyes, Bob. “Job Well Done? Jury Still Out” Maine Sunday Telegram
August 7, 2013 Hale, John. “2 Women Artists Open New Gallery & Studios in Hallowell.” Capital Weekly. April 2008. Ascrizzi, Lynn. “Cerulean: A Showcase For Artists.” Morning Sentinel.
November 2007. Thomas Moser Catalogues 2005 & 2006. Adams, Jeanne. “Middle School Explores Other
Cultures Through Art Project.” The Monument.
April 15, 2004. Pronovost, Michelle. “Artists flock to Gardiner and Artdogs Studios.” Courier Publications.
September 2005. Beem, Edgar Allen . “Art from nature, for nature’s sake.” The Forecaster.
September 2005. Feller, Ellie. “Palette of Gold: Painters Concoct Fresh Inspiration, Raise 8,000 for Art Center.” Sun Journal.
September 26, 2004. Knowles, Maggie. “Altogether Now, Mama Told Me Not To Run.” Portland Phoenix.
March 17, 2004 McGillvray, Dan. ”Bringing Art To Children: Hallowell Woman Helps Youngsters Tap Their Creativity.” Central Maine Newspapers.
August 5, 1999. Salvettie, Elizabeth. ”Fresh Paint Event Gives Fiddlehead Center Many Reasons to Celebrate.” The Monument.
September 30, 2004. “Artist Celebrates Hallowell’s History.” Kennebec Journal.
July 2000. lTeske, Tiffany. “Mount Blue Graduate Helps Brighten Augusta.” l Lewiston Sun Journal. October 21, 1999.
HONORS AND AWARDS
2020 Best In Show, Rangeley Outdoor Art Show, Rangeley, ME
2018 Scholarship Award Recipient to the International Encaustics Conference, Provincetown, MA
3rd Place & Recipient of Cash Prize, Art in the Park, South Portland, ME
2013 “Juror’s Award” from Daniel Kany, Supported by Aucocisco Galleries, Harlow Gallery, Hallowell, Maine
2000 “Old Halllowell Day” Featured Artist. Hallowell, ME
2006 Artist-In-Residence, Arts Are Elementary, Brunswick Elementary School, Brunswick, ME
2007 “Best Acrylic / Oil Painting”Annual Juried Show Harlow Art Gallery Hallowell, ME
2000 SURDNA Fellowship Recipient Haystack Mountain School Of Crafts, Deer Isle, ME
COLLECTIONS
Private collections in the United States, Italy and England. Detailed list provided upon request.
Public Art 2002 Augusta Community Project, Augusta 2017 Wheat Paste Project, Waterville
MEMBERSHIPS
Maine Art Education Association / National Art Education Association
Union of Maine Visual Artists
Maine Craft Association
Kennebec Valley Art Association, Past VP and Pres Board
New England Wax, Past VP Current President