
Bryan Helm has always been fascinated with
sound and all things musical.
As a largely self-taught musician he seeks out alternative and avant-garde
variations in technique and style while also respecting ties to traditional
forms. His formal training in the musical world includes a very short but
insightful stint as a college student, where he noted immediately that
he did not wish to become a teacher of music.
In 1985 he attended the first Guitar
Craft course held in Charles Town West Virginia, and has participated
in courses there and in California. He and musical collaborator Dave Stafford
met at a Guitar Craft course in 1988, and together created a series of recordings.
Music can be heard at Bryan's podcast site My
Life In Sound.
Bryan's "techno-primitive" style has also been central to the
mosaic tile sculptural pieces he has composes with his wife Sarajane. Whether
the emphasis is on embellishing a musical instrument or a child's wagon,
the goal is to use materials including polymer clay, ceramics, beads, glass, wire,
metal, paper and fibers, to
create a new and unique texture and look for a familiar form.
It takes many hours of carefully placed work to
assemble each collaged piece using
existing tiles and specially fabricated components. Each item is individually
glued into place and later given several coats of Varathane,
a polyurethane sealer with UV protection. This attention to detail helps
ensure the works are both beautiful and durable. Table
tops are poured with epoxy resins such as Enviro-tex Lite.
Sculptural pieces or installations for public
and private spaces can be commissioned.
Details vary according to each project.
Contact Bryan for musical or mosaic questions
at: bryanhelm@comcast.net