Heather Holmes

Background

About Heather Holmes

Short Artist Bio: Heather Spencer Holmes is an artist, educator, event coordinator, and long-time Birmingham advocate. Having started her career as an artist in metal fabrication and black smithing, over the years she has focused a great deal of her energy on teaching local youth metal working techniques and the importance of art in education. Heather has been part of Birmingham's art community for the past twenty-two years and has worked with countless local artists and organizations in an array of capacities. Her dedication and enthusiasm were recently honored with the "Distinguished Service Within The Profession" award by the Alabama Arts Education Association. She currently manages projects through MESH Collective Art, and organizes art events, local and nationwide. Artist’s Statement: Growing up in the Ohio Valley, Heather Spencer Holmes was surrounded by communities of industry. Whether farming or working in the coal mines, her family had a strong tradition of working with their hands. With this framework of hands-on skills, Holmes approaches the creation of art as a tactile, rather than conceptual, experience. She explores the topics of humor, feminism, community and industry by combining the masculine energy of metal with child-like playfulness. Holmes’ work is usually created with site-specific installations in mind. The artwork is therefore a reflection of the space it inhabits. She intends for the viewer to interact with her art and feel a connection without the intimidation sometimes felt in gallery or museum settings. Her work is designed to be accessible and invite participation through touching, giggling and observation. Her hope is for the viewer to see the space the work occupies in a new context. She refers to her style of work as “Tangible Whimsy” and plans to infiltrate unsuspecting settings with art wherever she can get away with it.