Diplomas

The Scarecrow was a clever and resourceful individual, but he was not satisfied with mere cleverness. He wanted to think deep thoughts; he wanted a real brain instead of a head of straw. And so he sought the Wizard of Oz, the greatest wizard in the Land of Oz, who could surely help him. In [...]

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Ancestors, or, Seeking Connections in the World

What seems like many years ago, and of course it was, I began to believe that I needed to understand how I came to be so that I could understand how I am part of the world, in what way I, as an individual, am connected to places and people. Perhaps to some extent where [...]

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Saint Nicholas Day 2010

The circle of the year has come back to near the beginning, and in the dark of winter the festival of lights has begun. Today, St. Nicholas Day, is the formal beginning of the festival in our household. Today is the day the Julebukk first appears in the house, standing near where the Christmas tree [...]

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A campout past

Here Robert and Arend hike in a Texas state park around 1991 or 1992. This was a Camp Fire outing with Hilde’s club. The rest of the group, club members and their parents, had walked on ahead while the two of us, having started out after the others left the camp ground, made our way [...]

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Helfer Emilia 1913

This artifact is an inheritance from my father’s sister, but really a memento of an unknown kinswoman and a link to a place I have never been. I found this drawing among my Aunt Erna’s papers after she died in 1976. It appears at some time to have been in a frame, but no longer [...]

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30 Years

Today is just the beginning of 30 years more.

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Schnur Brothers

Peter Schnur, 1845-1921, surrounded by his four sons some time around 1910. Circling their father, clockwise from the left: Anton, born 1886; Ferdinand, born 1891; Peter the younger, born 1881; and Franz, born 1888. Three other sons died in infancy. Peter and his wife, Rozalia Kollet, 1850-1904, also had five daughters, four of whom lived [...]

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Translation is a Mode

A new group exhibition, Übersetzung ist eine Form. | Translation is a mode., at Kunstraum Niederoesterreich in Vienna includes works from TextEdit Textiles, a collaborative project by Arend deGruyter-Helfer and Aylor Brown. The exhibition is to run 8 April through 29 May 2010.

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Steve & Gene

Self portrait with Gene Helfer, by Steven Helfer, circa 1930?

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Hely Familia

My grandmother, Anna Jacobsen (born Åsa Åmundsdatter Kvamsøy), was 23 when she emigrated from Norway to the United States in 1903. She returned to Norway only once. In 1937 she traveled alone to visit her father, brother, and sister. This picture was a souvenir of that trip, probably taken on a mountain overlooking Øystese on [...]

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