
helena.mestenhauser
properties artisan
properties creation
crafts

chicken wire and burlap over ply frame, two foam texture process and jaxsan and paint final finishes lord and taylor christmas window 2017- spaeth design properties artisan julia moreno- prop shop supervisor

spray foam layer carved and coated with poured foam it 3 layer lord and taylor christmas window 2017- spaeth design properties artisan julia moreno- prop shop supervisor

lord and taylor christmas window 2017- spaeth design properties artisan julia moreno- prop shop supervisor

foam carved, with wood and found objects. finished with sculpt or coat beetlejuice- broadway properties assistant pete sarafin- production properties supervisor

beetlejuice- broadway properties assistant pete sarafin- production properties supervisor

foam carved with found objects and breakaway neck. beetlejuice- broadway properties assistant pete sarafin- production properties supervisor

with breakaway horn serpent woman- the juilliard school properties overhire costume design by narelle sissons kate dale- properties supervisor

serpent woman- the juilliard school properties overhire costume design by narelle sissions kate dale- properties supervisor

"swanette" and "duckette" as seen in original film saks fifth avenue snow white window 2017- spaeth design properties artisan julia moreno- prop shop supervisor

saks fifth avenue snow white window 2017- spaeth design properties artisan julia moreno- prop shop supervisor

saks fifth avenue snow white window 2017- spaeth design properties artisan julia moreno- prop shop supervisor

mixture of foam cast and purchased dildos, adhered and arranged to the throne the howard stern show properties artisan justin cox- art director

snake is made of beads, wire, glue, and apoxy sculpt die zauberflote- the juilliard school properties intern scenic design by grace laubacher kate dale- properties supervisor

forced perspective stylized book stand built and carved from foam saks fifth avenue snow white window 2017- spaeth design properties artisan julia moreno- properties supervisor

forced perspective stylized table built and carved from foam saks fifth avenue snow white window 2017- spaeth design properties artisan julia moreno- properties supervisor
molding and casting

27 cast from silicone mold lord and taylor christmas window 2016- spaeth design properties artisan julia moreno- prop shop supervisor

squirrels painted with jaxan and paint to survive outside, multi step paint process lord and taylor christmas window 2016- spaeth design properties artisan julia moreno- prop shop supervisor

after initial brush on, silicone was poured into casing to create mold lord and taylor christmas window 2016- spaeth design properties artisan julia moreno- prop shop supervisor

cast from pre-purchased details in smooth cast two part resin lord and taylor christmas window 2017- spaeth design properties artisan julia moreno- prop shop supervisor

many parts were cast in resin, altered, and new molds created for production lord and taylor christmas window 2017- spaeth design properties artisan julia moreno- prop shop supervisor

lord and taylor christmas window 2017- spaeth design properties artisan julia moreno- prop shop supervisor

lord and taylor christmas window 2017- spaeth design properties artisan julia moreno- prop shop supervisor

weights cast in smooth cast plastic tricked-itv properties artisan/magic builder justin cox-art director

lord and taylor christmas window 2017- spaeth design properties artisan julia moreno- prop shop supervisor

saks fifth avenue snow white window 2017- spaeth design properties artisan julia moreno- prop shop supervisor

saks fifth avenue snow white window 2017- spaeth design properties artisan julia moreno- prop shop supervisor

animal parts separate for posing, all two part silicone molds julia moreno- prop shop supervisor

harry winston bridal window display- spaeth design properties artisan julia moreno- prop shop supervisor

harry winston bridal window display- spaeth design properties artisan julia moreno- prop shop supervisor

bloomingdales "sing" display 2016- spaeth design properties artisan julia moreno- prop shop supervisor
carpentry

beetlejuice- broadway pete sarafin- production properties supervisor david korins- scenic design

beetlejuice- broadway pete sarafin- production properties supervisor david korins- scenic design

refitted a new top for a trashed antique foot-pedal sewing machine; retained all function while updating quality and look. personal project 2022

machine stowed in lowered position with lid closed personal project 2022

antique machine before replacement; significant water damage and missing pieces personal project 2022

how i learned to drive- broadway jessica zivny- properties supervisor rachel hauck- scenic design

golden shield- manhattan theatre club jessica zivny- properties supervisor design by dots- kimie nishikawa

golden shield- manhattan theatre club jessica zivny- properties supervisor design by dots- kimie nishikawa

personal project 2016

personal project 2016

personal project 2022

peg joints, dovetail joints, wedged-through mortise and tenon joints, lap joints personal project 2018

personal project 2018

made specifically to mimic vintage toilet for rehearsal room bella bella- manhattan theatre club properties carpenter scenic design by john lee beatty jessica sovronsky- properties supervisor

as part of a team, built and painted rowboat. peter grimes- des moines metro opera properties intern scenic design by keith brumley adam crinson- properties master
soft goods/upholstery

the pageant queen's ugly daughter- pageant productions

the house that will not stand- new york theatre workshop assistant props master scenic design by adam rigg kate stack- properties master

commission 2018

commission 2018

commission 2021

commission 2021

personal project 2017

personal project 2017

chair cushion was sewn and button tufted, then attached to wooden form and frame personal project- the juilliard school properties intern

rolling, sit-able, upholstered "hatbox" suitable for kicking bella bella- manhattan theatre club properties carpenter scenic design by john lee beatty jessica sovronsky- properties supervisor

bella bella- manhattan theatre club properties carpenter scenic design by john lee beatty jessica sovronsky- properties supervisor

the house that will not stand- new york theatre workshop assistant props master scenic design by adam rigg kate stack- properties master

how to transcend a happy marriage- lincoln center theatre properties assistant

chairs, especially the tall stool on the left, were pattern matched to the wall la calisto- the juilliard school properties intern scenic design by charlap hyman & herrero kate dale- properties supervisor photo courtesy of david mortellito

la calisto- the juilliard school properties intern photo courtesy of david mortellito directed by zack winokur scenic design by charlap hyman & herrero lighting design by marcus doshi costume design by austin scarlett kate dale- properties supervisor
puppets, moving props and tricks

body supported by handles at shoulders, arms puppeted from sticks behind designed by jessica scott ship of fools- here art center puppet build assistant photo courtesy of jessica scott

jacket lined with outer fabric, hanging next to initial measurement sketch designed by jessica scott ship of fools- here art center puppet build assistant

face and side pieces cast and modified off original vintage bakelite clock. attached with steel and magnets moscow moscow moscow moscow moscow moscow-manhattan class company properties artisan susan barras- properties supervisor

pieces laid out as "broken" when dropped moscow moscow moscow moscow moscow moscow-manhattan class company properties artisan susan barras- properties supervisor

moscow moscow moscow moscow moscow moscow-manhattan class company properties artisan susan barras- properties supervisor

"shrunk" position hand held tricked-itv properties artisan/magic builder justin cox- art director

"stretched" position inside "stretching machine" tricked-itv properties artisan/magic builder justin cox- art director

tricked-itv properties artisan/magic builder justin cox- art director

tricked-itv properties artisan/magic builder justin cox- art director

tricked-itv properties artisan/magic builder justin cox- art director

tricked-itv properties artisan/magic builder justin cox- art director

tricked-itv properties artisan/magic builder justin cox- art director

manipulatable and flexible, with head severing mechanism seven guitars- the juilliard school properties intern scenic design by georgia lee kate dale-properties supervisor

seven guitars- the juilliard school properties intern scenic design by georgia lee kate dale-properties supervisor

seven guitars- the juilliard school properties intern scenic design by georgia lee kate dale-properties supervisor
fake food

the cake- manhattan theatre club kate stack- supervisor

mlima's tale- the public theater properties artisan scenic design by riccardo hernandez sydney schaatz-properties master

mlima's tale- the public theater properties artisan scenic design by riccardo hernandez sydney schaatz-properties master

mlima's tale- the public theater properties artisan scenic design by riccardo hernandez sydney schaatz-properties master

mlima's tale- the public theater properties artisan scenic design by riccardo hernandez sydney schaatz-properties master

the cake- manhattan theatre club kate stack- supervisor

tricked-itv properties artisan/magic builder justin cox-art director

tricked-itv properties artisan/magic builder justin cox-art director

upholstery foam, crystal gel and paint seven guitars- the juilliard school properties intern scenic design by georgia lee kate dale-properties supervisor

upholstery foam, crystal gel and paint seven guitars- the juilliard school properties intern scenic design by georgia lee kate dale-properties supervisor

upholstery foam, crystal gel and paint seven guitars- the juilliard school properties intern scenic design by georgia lee kate dale-properties supervisor

how to transcend a happy marriage- lincoln center theatre properties assistant scenic design by david zinn allison mantilla- properties supervisor

how to transcend a happy marriage- lincoln center theatre properties assistant scenic design by david zinn allison mantilla- properties supervisor

batting in jaxan, floral spray thinner than water- the juilliard school properties intern scenic design by arnulfo maldonaldo kate dale- properties supervisor

the cake- manhattan theatre club kate stack- supervisor
painting

bella bella- manhattan theatre club properties artisan scenic design by john lee beatty jessica sovronsky- properties supervisor

bella bella- manhattan theatre club properties artisan scenic design by john lee beatty jessica sovronsky- properties supervisor

edwin- great circle productions overhire props painter scenic design by chad mcarver

edwin- great circle productions overhire props painter scenic design by chad mcarver

the empty place- new york university properties artisan scenic design by aoshuang zhang ellie bye- properties supervisor

richard III-prague shakespeare company properties designer, scenic artist

richard III-prague shakespeare company properties designer, scenic artist

tricked- itv justin cox- art director

edwin- great circle productions overhire props painter scenic design by chad mcarver

(colors/lettering inaccurate) edwin- great circle productions overhire props painter scenic design by chad mcarver

peter grimes- des moines metro opera properties intern scenic design by keith brumley adam crinson-properties supervisor

peter grimes- des moines metro opera properties intern scenic design by keith brumley adam crinson-properties supervisor

mr. burns- playwright's horizons properties resident scenic design by neil patel kate stack-properties supervisor

mr. burns- playwright's horizons properties resident scenic design by neil patel kate stack-properties supervisor

mr. burns- playwright's horizons properties resident scenic design by neil patel kate stack-properties supervisor
paper props/label design

radium girls- northeastern university properties master production photo by christopher m. mckenzie directed by wanda strukus scenic and lighting design by justin townsend costume design by frances nelson mcsherrey

radium girls- northeastern university properties master production photo by christopher m. mckenzie directed by wanda strukus scenic and lighting design by justin townsend costume design by frances nelson mcsherrey

radium girls- northeastern university properties master scenic design by justin townsend

arcadia- the juilliard school properties intern scenic design by brett j. banakis kate dale- properties supervisor

arcadia- the juilliard school properties intern directed by lila neugebauer scenic design by brett j. banakis lighting design by peter west costume design by asta bennie hostetter kate dale- properties supervisor

arcadia- the juilliard school properties intern scenic design by brett j. banakis kate dale- properties supervisor

arcadia- the juilliard school properties intern scenic design by brett j. banakis kate dale- properties supervisor

arcadia- the juilliard school properties intern scenic design by brett j. banakis kate dale- properties supervisor

hamlet- prague shakespeare company properties and scenic designer

hamlet- prague shakespeare company properties and scenic designer

dance nation- playwrights horizons properties assistant scenic design by arnulfo maldonaldo matthew frew-properties supervisor

dance nation- playwrights horizons properties assistant scenic design by arnulfo maldonaldo matthew frew-properties supervisor

snore- the juilliard school properties intern scenic design by arnulfo maldonaldo kate dale- properties supervisor

snore- the juilliard school properties intern scenic design by arnulfo maldonaldo kate dale- properties supervisor

radium girls- northeastern university properties master scenic design by justin townsend