“Paintings from the Orange Room” by Phoebe Helander
Where: P·P·O·W
When: Through December 20
Why It’s Worth a Look: Unlike most still lifes, Phoebe Helander’s oil-on-wood paintings are all about capturing change in real time. She’ll sit for four-to-ten hour sessions, capturing a burning candle as it melts down to the nub. As the candle morphs, Helander continually paints over her preexisting work—after all, she says, loss is a natural part of change.
Know Before You Go: Even as they focus on decay, Helander’s small-scale paintings find expression in the dissolution. She turns her eye to melting ice, wilting flowers, and bowls of milk slowly developing a skin.