Artwork copyright D. Maxwell Helppie. Photo courtesy of Washington State Arts Commission, 2017.

Tourist, 1994

D. Maxwell Helppie
(American, born 1926, died 2012)

Location: Betz Elementary, Cheney

ABOUT THE ARTWORK

Tourist is part of a series of works created by artist Maxwell Helppie after visiting Cairns, Australia, and the Great Barrier Reef with his wife in 1994. The figures in this piece are inspired by icons and artifacts from the region. They were composed by the artist to "interrelate with the naive and innocent tourist, while in the background, the daily life in Australia moves along."

This artwork was acquired for the State Art Collection in partnership with Cheney School District.

ABOUT THE ARTIST

The artworks of Dennis Maxwell Helppie (1926-2012) play freely between representation and abstraction. His art was influenced by the mysticism and culture of his Northern Finnish heritage. He noted: "To me, abstraction frees my creative abilities to continually explore new and different approaches to my work. It is very challenging and provides an avenue to stretch my imagination to its fullest."

Helppie grew up in the Detroit area. He served in the U.S. Army Air Corps after high school from 1944 to 1947 and in the Army of Occupation in Germany. In 1951, he earned a Bachelors degree in art education with teaching credentials from Eastern Michigan University. In the 1950s, Helppie moved to Washington and taught arts and crafts at Lynnwood Junior High School and worked the afternoon shift at Boeing, where he was as an Inspector and Planner. In 1971, he earned a Master of Education degree in pyschology and counseling from the University of Washington in Seattle. He also taught business courses at Edmonds Community College for thirteen years. Helppie lived, worked, and made art in the Whidbey Island area for over thirty years.