The town of Helper has experienced a burst of renewal in the last several years. Originally a bustling mining and railroad town, Helper fell on hard times which has
actually helped it retain the ramshackle charm of a bygone era.
The current flood of interest is tempered with a desire
and commitment to Helper's unique historical value
and gritty immigrant back stories.
The show setting for Helper Plein Air is the historic JC Penney building, built in 1927 it is now home to Adams Fine Arts and is a perfect showcase for the work created in and around Helper.
Juror
Workman’s landscapes are idyllic; they depict the visual splendor of the American West. He moved to Helper for a 3 month painting sabbatical in 2017 and has been painting scenes from that visit for several years, drawn to this small town with it's rich imagery and lively art scene. At the same time, his paintings convey a deeper meaning that seems to reside just beneath the surface, evocatively emanating from among the layers of oil paint applied and scraped back, over and over and over again. Workman does not endeavor merely to paint an appealing picture, but also to capture a deeper sense that he intuits from the land, as well as his life.
