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April 15, 2017 by tomdalzell

Helly Welly – Another Visit

 

Quirky Berkeley 04-11-2017

In late 2014 I published a post on Helen Holt and her Helly Welly lamp shop at 1649 Dwight.  Technically a lamp shop – in reality, that a lots more.

I visited again.

Quirky Berkeley 04-11-2017

Holt and her dog Charlie Parker are still hard at quirky work.  She still personifies Quirky Berkeley.  When words add value, I will insert words.  When they don’t, I will let the photos speak for themselves.

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Quirky Berkeley 04-11-2017

Like many of us in Berkeley, Holt has found the idea of President Trump to be troubling, deeply troubling.  A number of pieces have involved commentary on Trump. Here she draws our attention to his hair.

Quirky Berkeley 04-11-2017

This piece is “Brexit.”  A horseshoe for good luck, a dove for peace, and a tea pot urging us to “Keep Calm and Carry On.”  According to Knowyourmeme.com, “The Keep Calm and Carry On poster was commissioned in 1939 by the temporary Ministry of Information in England, following the printing of two other inspirational posters stating ‘Freedom Is In Peril. Defend It With All Your Might’ and ‘Your Courage, Your Cheerfulness, Your Resolution Will Bring Us Victory.’ It was intended to be used to strengthen morale in the event of a large-scale attack or occupation, which many considered inevitable at the time.”

Quirky Berkeley in Berkeley, Calif. i seen on April 11th, 2017.

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In this piece, I pay special attention to the teenager dancing and the teenager in the lap of Geisha on the Left talking on the phone.

Quirky Berkeley 04-11-2017

In this piece, Holt celebrates the life of her late twin sister.  The swans reflect each other, near-mirror images.

Quirky Berkeley 04-11-2017

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Of all the pieces in the store in mid April, 2017, none amused me more than the accordion hanging in the window.

Quirky Berkeley 04-11-2017

Quirky Berkeley 04-11-2017

Somebody Holt knows had a falling out with an accordion player.  The piece features a Pinnochio (liar liar pants on fire), knives and darts and broken glass and burrs.  I am reminded of Dylan’s Ballad in Plain D:  “For her parasite sister I had no respect / Bound by her boredom her pride to protect.”  This piece sure rocks with a spite vibe,no?

On this, my third or fourth or fifth visit to the shop, I finally saw Holt’s office.

Quirky Berkeley 04-11-2017

I have a special place in my heart for people with crazy ideas.  George Bernard Shaw famously said in Man and Superman “All progress depends on people with crazy ideas.”  My valedictory speech in high school in 1969 was based on that premise.  I believe it. I believe in crazy ideas.  I like to see people with crazy ideas put them out in the world.

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My friend looked up when he read those words while going through the draft post.   “Well your friend Helen Holt has a boatload of crazy ideas, doesn’t she?”

My friend has an independent relationship with Holt.  In 2015, she loaned him a triptych altar screen that he used for a holiday display.

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“As for you and your love of crazy ideas,” he continued, “you know what Arthur C. Clarke said, don’t you?”  He didn’t pause to see if I did.  “New ideas pass through three periods: 1) It can’t be done. 2) It probably can be done, but it’s not worth doing. 3) I knew it was a good idea all along!”

Brilliant!  As in – I knew Quirky Berkeley was a good idea all along.

Enough wisdom – what does my friend this of the post?

Quirky Berkeley 05-12-16

 

 

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4 Responses to Helly Welly – Another Visit

  1. Jim Milstead says:
    April 15, 2017 at 3:30 pm

    Wonderful shop with marvelous myriad sculptures.By an odd coincidence, I seem recall that same location may have been Berkeley artist Martin Metal’s studio in the mid 1960s before he bought his place on 10th Street.

    Reply
    • Lynne Eggers says:
      April 26, 2017 at 11:41 pm

      When I was finishing up a degree at New College, Martin Metal was my mentor. I worked with Martin and much of his wonderful equipment in a gigantic warehouse workshop. My final project was a five-section wooden fence made out of scavenged wood from old pallets. Would have liked to know him earlier when he had this studio.

      Reply
      • tomdalzell says:
        April 28, 2017 at 5:35 am

        Would you mind taking a look at my post on Metal and putting this comment there? http://quirkyberkeley.com/martin-metal-berkeley-of-the-past-for-the-ages/

        Thanks/ Tom

        Reply
  2. Sarah D says:
    April 29, 2017 at 10:34 am

    I am amazed but not surprised by your incredible body of work, Helly. What a creative mind.

    Reply

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