Portland Community College | Portland, Oregon Portland Community College

Rock Creek Helzer Gallery

Featured artist

Hours and location

The Helzer Gallery is open Monday – Friday, 9am-4pm and Saturday, 10am-4pm. It is located in Building 3 at Rock Creek Campus. Visitors are asked to purchase a parking permit at the kiosk at the campus entrance on weekdays. Parking is free on Saturdays.

About the gallery

Rock Creek Helzer GalleryThe Helzer Gallery is named for Richard (Dick) Helzer (1940-2006). Helzer spent 37 years at Portland Community College, first teaching ceramics at the Sylvania Campus, then starting the Art program at Rock Creek. At PCC, he taught sculpture and drawing, oversaw the art gallery, and served as a mentor to young faculty and countless students. He was funny, wise, and passionate about his work. His sculptures can be found on the Rock Creek Campus as well as in public and private collections across the Northwest and nationwide.

Helzer received his degree from Portland State University, where he studied with sculptor Frederick Littmann (1907-1979), learning from him a deep appreciation of such artists as Auguste Rodin, Aristide Maillol, and Henry Moore. Helzer worked in stone, clay, wood, and metals with equal fluency, but he was a carver at heart. His most ambitious sculptures start with elemental tools and materials.

Contact

For more information contact helzer@pcc.edu.