HELIO.GRAPH

Rian Vellichor is a songwriter, comedian, & photographer based in the Twin Cities. Her work focuses on themes of mental health, sapphic love, & geek culture. Rian creates feverishly with a goal of being a beacon to others in the way her favorite artists have been a beacon to her.

A note from the artist:

"I’ve always been interested in the symbology of a lighthouse or a beacon, so when I found the word 'heliograph' in my research, it was perfect.

A heliograph is a device used to signal a message. The sun shines on the device and the light is reflected outward as a signal. This is the perfect metaphor for how I see music and art.

Any music, comedy, photography... Any kind of art that I've been obsessed with over my lifetime has been intriguing to me because I saw myself in it. It said something I hadn’t found the words for yet. It put the last piece in my puzzle. In many instances, it’s what’s kept me alive.

This is not a unique incident of course, many feel this way. And for me, it’s also meant that I want to do the same; Take that light that hit me and project it out for someone else too.

Thanks for looking around. I'm glad you're here."

SOUNDS

Rian has been writing & performing music for the entirety of her life. At age 9 she was accepted into professional touring girls choir Metropolitan Choralaires/Twin Cities Girls Chorus. She began her theater career at age 13 in community theater & would spend much of her young life singing in various choirs, musicals, & formal musical competitions before kicking off her transition into college by winning her local singing competition as an adult. She would obtain her bachelors degree in music composition with a minor in music business in 2016 & has been performing locally ever since. Rian is currently in progress of recording her debut album.

SIGHTS

Beginning her photography journey in 2011 after being convinced to move from dramatic self-portraiture in her backyard to dramatic portraiture in her friends back yards, Rian has always been a visual creature. She fell in love with concept images & that has stuck to present day. Though Rian has been hired for weddings, engagement photos, event photography, concert photography & more... Her heart remains with concept photos & this is the practice she dedicates herself to now.
Specializing in portraiture & fine art, Rian aims to tell a story through her images.

SINS

After being picked out by the artistic director for a special project called The Groundlings in her rookie year at the Minnesota Renaissance Festival & subsequently being nominated for Rookie of the Year & Group of the Year (winning Group of the Year,) Rian fell head first into street performing. She would go on to form comedic bard troupe The Rabble-Rousers & host the pub crawl, the wine show, the front gate show, & eventually joined comedic musical group The Dregs. After hitting the ground running, she was approached to join Fearless Comedy Productions, & after performing in Fearless Lab for the first time during comedy marathon Die Laughing, she soon joined the company & would end up running Lab herself. In Fearless, Rian has also performed improv, stand-up, murder mystery dinner theater, & written stage shows "Yoga For Pessimists" & "The Bard." Having collected a number of successful original musical comedy songs about being gay, playing dungeons & dragons, & going to therapy, Rian plans to record a special to showcase her body of comedic work.

Special thanks to Amore Fotography, Lawrence Edwards Photography, Trevor Rodriguez Photography, Vitoria Freitas Photography, Craig Madsen Photography, Karrah Kobus Photography & Kae Lynn Durham Caston Photography.

MAIL

contactheliograph@gmail.com

SOCIAL

@heliographart