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The Artist's Sketch: Helen Gunderson
These questions originally came from a French series, "Bouillon de Culture" hosted by Bernard Pivot. They're better known as the questions James Lipton asks every guest at the end of Inside the Actor's Studio, and have been adapted for this site.
1. What is your favorite word?
obstreperous
2. What is your least favorite word?
veggies and fridge
3. What turns you on creatively, spiritually or emotionally?
A 70 degree day with muted sunshine, blue skies, and a gentle breeze when I can
photograph the abandoned barn at the family homeplace farm where my grandparents
lived—or when I can hang out and videotape farming activities at the farms
of families who belong to the Practical Farmers of Iowa. But photographing abandoned
farm buildings, such as my grandparents' barn, done in isolation, is rather lonely.
I am also sustained by fine friendships and enjoying a cup of herbal tea (perhaps
a meal as well) with them and engaging in conversation that gets beneath the surface
of things.
And of course, genuine laughter and mutual acceptance is wonderful, too. But I also need a connection to my inner being, and I too often neglect that. Five minutes on the treadmill to Japanese drumming music, chanting to vent my frustrations and pretending I am drumming, followed by active imagination dancing in my parlor and yoga stretching, then writing or drawing in my journal—that's a great transition from avoiding my inner journey to actually tapping into the creative process and perhaps gaining the focus and ambition to move some projects along to completion.
4. What turns you off?
Disillusion in government—even local government. Right wing ideologues.
5. What sound or noise do you love?
Cooing of a mourning dove or the sound of a friend calling on the phone or knocking
on my door.
6. What sound or noise do you hate?
Unsolicited television and radio noise, barking dogs, and roaring motorcycles.
7. What profession other than your own would you like to attempt?
Farming. Horticulture. Journalism.
8. What profession would you not like to do?
Nursing, scientific laboratory work, customer service, undertaker, insurance adjustor,
actuarial science.
9. Who's the biggest influence on your life?
My paternal grandparents, John and DeElda Gunderson, who lived on a farm three
miles from the farm where I grew up. A couple of therapists and a spiritual director.
Soul-mate friends.
Helen Gunderson is an independent photographer, videographer, writer and rural historian. She interprets rural life and the land of her youth as a fourth generation Iowan. Helen photographs small town events and farm scenes, and does freelance work in addition to creating independent documentary projects.
Read her entry in the Iowa Arts Council's Artist Directory.
