K A T E H E L M S
Scientist - Sculptor - Synergist
katehelmslaboratory.com
@katehelmslaboratory (Instagram)
EDUCATION:
2012
Master of Fine Arts in Sculpture
University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida
2007
Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science, summa cum laude
Bachelor of Arts in Art, summa cum laude
University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida
Minor in Agricultural and Natural Resources Ethics and Policy
EXHIBITION RECORD:
Select Exhibitions
2022
Edgewater (solo show), Hodson Gallery, Hood College, Frederick, MD
5 Fathoms (solo show), Phaze 2 Gallery, Shepherd University, Shepherdstown, WV
2018
Tidewater Elegy (solo show), Hillsborough Community College, Tampa, FL
Hot and Sticky: The Sultry State, The Projects Contemporary Art Space, FAT Village, Fort Lauderdale, FL
Water Over the Bridge: Contemporary Seascapes, Morean Arts Center, St Petersburg, FL
2017
Rise (solo show), Kristen Michelle Mason Gallery, Beacon College, Leesburg, FL
2016
All Florida Invitational, Boca Museum of Art, Boca Raton, FL
Swimming with Narcissus, Bailey Contemporary Arts, Pompano Beach, FL
2015
(A) State of Florida, Alfstad & Contemporary, Sarasota, FL
2014
SELECT Miami- SPECIAL PROJECT, Art Basel Miami satellite fair, North Miami Beach, FL
2014 Installation Art Biennial, Appleton Museum of Art, Ocala, FL (Catalogue)
27th Annual, Alexandria Museum of Art, Alexandria, LA (Catalogue)
63rd Annual All Florida Juried Competition and Exhibition, Boca Museum of Art, Boca Raton, FL (Catalogue)
ELEVEN: John Erickson Museum of Art (JEMA) 10-Year Retrospective, Bob Rauschenberg Gallery, FT Myers, FL
XY: Masculinity in Photography, Dark Room Gallery, Essex VT(Catalogue)
Files and Films, The Olsen Gallery, Saint Petersburg, FL
Flagging Pink, The Box Gallery, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL
2013
Construction Orange (is my favorite Color), William and Nancy Oliver Gallery, Tampa, FL
PRECURSOR, Catalyst Arts, Belfast, Northern Ireland
What it is, William and Nancy Oliver Gallery, Tampa, FL
8th National Juried Exhibition-Axis Gallery, Sacramento, CA (Catalogue)
Florida Flavor, Art Center Sarasota, Sarasota, FL
2012
The Palm and the Price, MFA Thesis Exhibition, Univ. Gallery, Gainesville, FL
Living with it (art) II, invited artist, Saint Croix Alt/Space, Gainesville, FL
Just Add Water, invited artist, The Gallery, Reitz Union, Gainesville, FL
Living with it (art) I, invited artist, Saint Croix Alt/Space, Gainesville, FL
2011
TransWARP, Warphaus, Gainesville, FL
TransFORMANCE, MUB Recital Hall, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL
TransLOCATION, various venues, Gainesville, FL
pARTy, Gallery 817, Gainesville, FL
2010
End of Summer, Dialogue Space, Gainesville, FL
The Weave is Loose but the Wool is Warm, Warphaus, Gainesville, FL
Performance- Installation
2014
North Beach Trophy Shop, SELECT Miami, North Miami Beach, FL; Bauhelm Enterprises. Site-specific installation during Art Basel Miami.
North Beach Trophy Shop was inspired by the wunderkammer, carnivalesque lighting, and notions of bionic paradise, creating an installation that offered brilliantly colored, highly detailed silicone replicas of alligator hides out of a custom-fabricated 5’x10’ trailer, transforming an outdoor location into a hotspot for tropical revelry.
Tamiami 1 East, Everglades National Park, Miami, FL; in collaboration with Bauhelm Enterprises. Site-specific project in location scouted by Kate Helms during work as a field biologist for the Modifications to State Road No. 90/ Modified Water Deliveries Project to Everglades National Park project.
33 alligator raft toys were inflated adjacent to the L-29 Canal, tied into taut bundles, and carried southwards across State Road 90 (Tamiami Trail) into Everglades National Park, mimicking an assisted wildlife crossing. The floats were released among the pond apple forest, only to be retrieved shortly thereafter, deflated, and stored for future interventions.
Extasis, Everglades National Park, Miami, FL; in collaboration with Bauhelm Enterprises. Site-specific project in location scouted by Kate Helms during work as a field biologist for the Modifications to State Road No. 90/ Modified Water Deliveries Project to Everglades National Park project.
In this performance, Helms, clad in pink feathers and skin-tight, golden swimwear, ludicrously explores the Everglades on her vessel of choice: a cheap inflatable alligator raft. Far from the biologist role she inhabits in daily life, she is reborn as a quixotic conquistadora, a feathered pinup shrouded in mosquito mesh, and now-rogue scientist. Leaches cling to her flesh as she becomes, for a brief stretch, the complete embodiment of the exoticized lore surrounding Florida's natural and cultural environments.
SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS:
2022
Shepherd University, Shepherdstown, WV
2018
Fat Village Arts District, Fort Lauderdale, FL
Morean Arts Center, St Petersburg, FL
Hillsborough Community College, Tampa, FL
2017
University of Florida, Gainesville, FL
Beacon College, Leesburg, FL
2016
Broward College, Fort Lauderdale, FL
EXPERIENCE:
2007-Present
Professional Artist, Kate Helms Laboratory
The Kate Helms Laboratory was founded on the premise that artistic interventions, however absurd, have the power to change cultural attitudes about the environment.
2019-Present
Senior Stormwater Engineer, Loudoun County, VA.
Supervise inspections of stormwater infrastructure for compliance with Loudoun County’s Facility Standards Manual and approved design specifications. Responsible for compliance with County’s Municipal Separate Storm Sewer (MS4) permit. Contract management, field verification of compliance, and management of illicit discharge detection and response efforts, including source identification and sampling efforts.
2016-2019
Stormwater Program Administrator, City of Largo, FL.
Manager of National Discharge Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) program implementation for the City of Largo with the goal of improving water quality. Responsible for permit compliance with the City's Municipal Separate Storm Sewer (MS4) permit, including environmental outreach and education program development and administration, metric tracking, technical report preparation, and coordination of infrastructure mapping, inventory, and maintenance. Execution of Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) program in partnership with Pinellas County Watershed Management. Strategic planning, hiring and supervision of employees, and creative direction of stormwater marketing efforts.
2015-2016
Government Operations Consultant, Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP), Tampa, FL.
Supervised eight Compliance Assurance Program team members to effectively implement NPDES objectives as delegated by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
Planning and coordination of industrial and construction stormwater inspections across eight counties in Southwest Florida. Training of staff, development and implementation of environmental outreach events, database management, and oversight/ review of technical reports. Coordination with Division of Water Resource Management senior leadership to ensure consistency between State and District objectives across all aspects of program implementation.
2013 - 2015
Environmental Specialist, FDEP, Tampa, FL.
As NPDES subject matter expert, worked closely with permitting staff to achieve multidisciplinary Department objectives for outreach, training, and compliance with state and federal rules/regulations.
Compliance Experience: Compliance Assurance Program (CAP) specialist tasked with evaluating complex facilities/sites for compliance with diverse range of applicable regulatory programs including: NPDES stormwater, solid and hazardous waste management, air regulations, industrial wastewater, and environmental resource permitting. Ensures Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and FDEP goals are met safely and effectively according to prescribed timelines.
Additional Skills: Extensive knowledge of construction and industrial Best Management Practices (BMPs), including troubleshooting complex problems. Highly experienced in providing compliance assistance and outreach in order to achieve positive outcomes. District lead for stormwater training, complaint investigation, permit determinations, and detailed review, analysis, and comment on Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plans (SWPPPs), including for high-profile cases.
2013
Environmental Scientist, CECOS Environmental, Broward County, FL.
Permitting, habitat monitoring/assessment, and technical report preparation. Project Experience:
Modifications to State Road No. 90/ Modified Water Deliveries Project to Everglades National Park, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Miami-Dade County, FL: This project involved the raising of a 10-mile stretch of Tamiami Trail roadway including a one mile bridge to help restore historic flow of water to the Everglades. Site scientist responsible for daily monitoring of nesting activity of wood storks, snail kites, and migratory and wading birds as well as monitoring for the presence of the eastern indigo snake, gopher tortoise and Everglades mink along and adjacent to the construction corridor. Other responsibilities included collecting and analyzing water samples for turbidity, ensuring adequate implementation ofappropriate BMPs, daily report preparation summarizing monitoring observations, and providing consultation to USACE supervisory staff.
C.W. Bill Young Regional Reservoir Renovation Project, Tampa Bay Waters (TBW), Hillsborough County, FL: Project provided a long term solution to the 1,100-acre TBW reservoir to increase storage capacity from the current 15 billion gallons to approximately 18.5 billion gallons. Designed and implemented Environmental Training Program (ETP) for protection of threatened and endangered species during construction activities. Agency coordination for species-specific construction protocols and buffer zones for protected species including Florida gopher tortoise, Florida burrowing owl, Florida sandhill crane, as well as migratory and wading birds.
Krome Avenue (SR 997) Design/ Environmental Permitting, Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) District 6, Miami Dade County, FL: This project involved widening Krome Ave. from 2 to 4 lanes from Kendall Drive to north of Tamiami Trail and widening of the C-4 Canal bridge. Preparation of Environmental Resource Permit (ERP) and Right of Way ( ROW) permit applications. Wetland delineation, habitat mapping, and environmental assessment in accordance with permit application requirements.
SR 710/Bee Line Highway Project Development and Environment (PD&E) Study, FDOT District 4, Palm Beach & Martin Counties, FL: Environmental Scientist for a 27-mile roadway improvement project traversing environmental sensitive areas, including conservation lands and habitat for listed species. Preparation of Endangered Species Biological Assessment Report (ESBAR), Contamination Screening Evaluation Report (CSER), Wetland Evaluation Report (WER), and Environmental Assessment (EA). Fieldwork for wetland delineations and habitat suitability analysis for protected species. Nesting and foraging surveys for protected species in accordance with United States Fish and Wildlife (USFWS) protocols.
2012
Field Biologist, CECOS Environmental, Palm Beach County, FL.
Contracted U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Qualified Wildlife Observer during construction activities.
Culvert Repairs at C-51 – Stormwater Treatment Area 1 East, USACE, Palm Beach County, FL: This project consisted of installation of cofferdams and dewatering, excavation of existing riprap and embankments, construction of L-shaped concrete aprons, foundation grouting, installation of stainless steel vents and support straps, as well as installation of riprap, geotextile, bedding stone, turf reinforcement mat and sod. Site biologist responsible for daily monitoring for the presence of eastern indigo snake, Florida burrowing owl, Everglades snail kite, and other protected species. Other responsibilities include daily report preparation and inspection of construction and staging areas for proper use of turbidity and erosion control devices.
Adjunct Assistant Professor, University of Florida Natural Area Teaching Laboratory (NATL).
Instructor for ENY 4905 Ecological Art, a joint initiative of the Harn Museum and the Entomology & Nematology Department to create educational ecological sculpture in a 60-acre tract on the University of Florida campus.
2011-12
Instructor of Record, University of Florida School of Art and Art History.
Instructor for introductory studio sculpture courses ART 2701 Shaping Form and Space and ART 2702 Gravity and Buoyancy. Responsible for curriculum development and implementation.
2010
Team Lead/ Environmental Field Technician, Entrix Inc, Houma, LA.
Emergency Responder/Environmental Support to BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, including field management of technical support staff during disaster response efforts. United States Coast Guard (USCG): Assured Coast Guard compliance to Best Management Practices (BMP's) during stranded boom retrieval missions in environmentally sensitive marsh habitats in coastal Louisiana. Monitored work activities to ensure protection of listed species identified in the project action plan.
Submerged Oil Research: As Team Lead, acted as critical liaison between Unified Command Post (UCP) and field research teams. Responsible for on-site supervision of technical support staff and day-to-day management of a 3-vessel nautical research operation during UCP tactical mission to map the extent of nearshore oiling. Charged with the deployment of qualitative monitoring devices and the collection of samples for further chemical analysis. Sampling quality control, proper adherence to chain of custody procedures, laboratory coordination, and field documentation/reporting, as well as management and upkeep of field equipment and field supply inventories.
General: Ensured safe work practices during boat-based sampling operations including proper use of personal protective equipment (PPE). Trained staff in support and supervisory roles and assisted with establishment of new teams. Created specialized roles for team members, streamlined sampling procedures, and synchronized data systems. As directed by the UCP, tasked with Forensic Rapid Assessment of reported surface oil at potentially impacted coastal and inshore sites.
2008-09
Environmental Educator/ Naturalist, Florida Oceanographic Coastal Center, Stuart, FL.
Design/implementation of educational outreach programs for nonprofit marine research organization. Responsible for curriculum development and hiring, management, and training of staff and volunteers.
Public Outreach: Worked in conjunction with staff scientists to design, implement, and manage educational programs lecture series, seminars, species identification workshops, etc.). Director of educational summer camp programs, including direct supervision of support staff and volunteers.
Artificial Reef Program: Assisted with oyster restoration research in the St. Lucie River Estuary, including artificial reef creation, oyster cultivation, deployment, and monitoring. Team supervisor during construction, assuring compliance with permit and site plan specifications.
2009-12
Graduate Research, SAAH, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL. Project details:
Urban Watershed Project: Designed research study of urban creeks to determine morphological effects of stormwater runoff. Conducted topographic surveys, compare transects, created 3-D models. Master's Thesis: The Palm and the Price, which involved eco-sculptural analysis of historic trends in Florida land and water use.
2011-12
Facilities Supervisor/ Fabrication Technician, School of Art and Art History, University of Florida.
Charged with management of technical fabrication facilities. Duties:
Safe Work Environment: Coordinated, facilitated, and enforced safety procedures, including use of personal protective equipment (PPE) and proper handling of hazardous materials according to Safety Data Sheet (SDS) guidelines. Safe operation of shop equipment; training on proper technique.
Technical: Proficient in carpentry and welding; mastery of a wide range of hand and power tools. Advising in safe, efficient design and construction strategies.
AWARDS/ ACHIEVEMENTS:
2018
Finalist, Creative Pinellas Traveling Public Art Grant. Finalist for a $325,000 grant for an interactive public art project in Pinellas County.
2016
Visiting Artist, Broward College. STEAM series featuring artists employing science in their works. Lecture and workshop in which students were invited to create a kitschy Florida-inspired costume to be worn on a coast-to-coast journey across the state.
2015
Featured Presenter, Florida Water and Environment Association
Featured Presenter, FDEP Dewatering Outreach Event
2014
Appleton Museum of Art- Curators Award, Ocala FL
Olsen Gallery- Juror's Choice Award, St. Petersburg, FL
Gallery 1310- Curators Award, Fort Lauderdale FL
2012
Featured Presenter, UF Water Institute 2012 Water Resources Symposium
2009-12
MFA Graduate Assistantship, University of Florida
2010
James A. Rizzi Scholarship Award
Patricia Cross Future Leaders Award UF Representative
SKILLS/ CERTIFICATIONS:
Field:
FDEP Certified Erosion and Sedimentation Control Trainer and Inspector.
Knowledge of terminology, principles, and analytical techniques of environmental sciences.
Extensive knowledge of Florida ecosystems (upland, wetland, coastal, estuarine, marine).
Plant and animal species identification and inventory; maintenance of detailed field logs.
Water quality monitoring, data quality assurance, and knowledge of NPDES/ TMDLS.
Environmental sampling and quality control; knowledge of Chain of Custody protocols.
Skilled in the operation, and calibration of water quality field instruments.
Operation and maintenance of powered and non-powered watercraft & GPS navigation.
Extensive wilderness experience and familiarity working in adverse conditions.
Experience with implementation of Best Management Practices.
Familiar with Universal Mitigation Assessment Method (UMAM) of wetland evaluation.
Thorough knowledge of federal and state environmental policies and regulations.
Knowledge of threatened and endangered species policy and legislation.
Knowledge of RCRA fundamentals and applications.
Office:
Proficient in Microsoft Office (Word, PowerPoint, Access, Excel), Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator.
Preparation and presentation of educational seminars on environmental topics.
Budget planning and coordination.
Excellent verbal and written communication skills; knowledge of regulatory format and style.
Technical report preparation including statistical analysis and data interpretation.
Graphic and written representation of research findings in reports and publications.
Experience utilizing ArcGIS for mapping and analysis of field data.
NEPA documentation, PD&E studies, SWPPP preparation, environmental permitting.
Other:
Project management, design, and construction.
Proficient in carpentry, welding, and other fabrication techniques.