Artist Statement
Shared Motifs: Patter Hellstrom in an Art Historical Context 2007Patter Hellstrom exhibits her art internationally and is collected by a variety of museums, corporations, and private collectors. Hellstrom presently lives and works in San Francisco.
“Equilibrium is reached in my work as structural lines hold despite insistent disruptions, speaking to stability within chaos. Sutra literally means a thread or line that holds things together in Sanskrit. The newest works resonate with that precarious concept".
Expressive brushwork in fluid color merges with circles balanced along centerlines to create a dynamic equilibrium in my acrylic ink paintings on polypropylene material. The work encompasses themes of impermanence, compassion, stability, and interdependence.
Impermanence was paramount in my installation “Flower Mandala”, whose components were chosen for their beautiful, yet ephemeral nature. Utilizing the Buddhist sand mandala tradition, Flower Mandala created a compassionate impetus in the JPMorgan Chase Project Space, adjacent to the World Trade Center site. This seminal work combines my desire to visually explore traditional art forms, and then embody those concepts in a contemporary art context. 
My paintings are informed by my installations. Each piece is defined by centerlines, which provide balance, and wholeness acting as a point of reference within areas of color. The elements evoke a sense of detachment among a host of competing forces. Centerlines hold despite disruptions of splashed color and textured brushwork, suggesting stability within chaos and a curious interdependence between two forces.
Since moving my studio west to California, natural materials have dominated my installations while man-made materials have become prominent in my panel paintings. Impermanence is relevant in the installations, with rock and glass unattached to a base, allowing material to change fluidly with forces acting upon them.
South Winds 2007 20" x 26" acrylic ink on polypropylene