The Heller Center opened its doors and invited people to immerse themselves in paintings and bronze sculptures created by the original owner of the property, the late Larry Heller.
Some of the people who came to see the art on opening night for the three-day exhibit were friends with Heller, and their presence highlighted the importance of his legacy to Colorado Springs.
The gallery was curated by Sadie Franklin, a third-year VAPA student and intern at the center for the semester. Franklin took on this project as part of her semester long internship with the center.
As a student studying art history and museum studies, Franklin leapt at the opportunity to curate her own gallery. The internship offered her practical experience in her field of study. “This is my first exhibit I’ve done on a historical figure … every step of the process was up to me,” she said.
Though Franklin received guidance and assistance from Heller Center Assistant Director Rhonda Goodman-Gaghan, she was responsible for the bulk of the work. “The purpose of this exhibit is kind of to showcase Larry Heller and his influences since we don’t have those written records,” Franklin said.
Though The Heller Center owns 70 paintings, 400 works on paper, 50-70 ceramics and 50 bronzes created by Heller, there are no letters left behind to explain the thought process behind the art. Since Heller didn’t leave any written record, Franklin decided to organize the gallery around works of art by Heller that she could connect to books he owned.
The relationship between art and influence was most apparent in a corner of the gallery. The painting hung there was a scene from “Arabian Nights” with a frame made of wood and blue mosaic tiles. Underneath the painting, Franklin had placed a book of tales from “Arabian Nights” that was illustrated by Maxwell Parish. It was clear that Heller derived his influence from Parish’s illustrations.
The entire curation process, from pitching the project to digging through the archives, was marked with discovery. In the future, she hopes to put her joy and passion for art into hosting a gallery of her own work at the Heller Center.
Though the gallery celebrating the work of Larry Heller is closed, the Heller Center is hosting more events throughout the 2025 spring semester.
VAPA student Sadie Franklin curated the exhibit. Photo by Abigail Katharin.