ENHS Nature Trails October 2001 Article 1

This month's speaker: Dr. Kenneth Helphand

How fortunate we are to have Dr. Kenneth Helphand to speak this month. He's the author of numerous books, articles and films, often receiving special recognition from the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA); a Fellow of the ASLA; recipient of the University of Oregon Distinguished Teaching Award as well as an ASLA Merit Award for Research Communications; he's an Honorary member, Israel Association of Landscape Architects, has guest lectured at numerous universities, most recently at Technion, Israel Institute of Technology, . . . I could go on, but, kenny, as he signed his name, would prefer to tell you about his passion, not himself. He did kindly answer the usual questions so we could get to know him a little better.

WERE YOU INTERESTED IN NATURE AS A CHILD?
I grew up in New York City and then the suburbs. I don't think I thought of it in those terms, but I was very interested and loved the out-of-doors, especially the beach.

PARENTAL INFLUENCES?
In "nature" terms, my mother was from the Bronx and my Grandfather still lived in the same house, my father, from a small town in Iowa--so the stories I was told were quite different.

EARLY TEACHER INFLUENCES?
I had some great teachers from elementary school until graduate school.

ANY NATURE HOBBIES?
Only a taxonomic one, in that I collected everything (and still do).

LANDMARK EXPERIENCES?
As an adult, a sabbatical year in Israel 1980-81.

MEMORABLE TRAVELS?
Lots, but especially walks in England, France and Italy

WHO INFLUENCED YOU TO PURSUE STUDIES IN LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE?
I was attracted to landscape architecture in the late 60's by park and urban design concepts, especially from the work and writings of Lawrence Halprin and the playground designs of Paul Freidberg in New York City. I applied to graduate school in city planning and changed to landscape architecture my second day.

HOW DID YOU GET INTO YOUR AREA OF SPECIALIZATION?
My "specialization," as much as I have one as a generalist, is in landscape history and theory. This developed from my own intrinsic fascination with landscape architecture history, neglected when I was in school, and the paucity of contemporary landscape theory years ago. (Both of these conditions have changed.) I was also inspired by the work of J.B. Jackson.

WHERE DID YOU GET YOUR TRAINING?
My undergraduate degree is from Brandeis University where I majored in Politics, but spent all my time in the art studio, and then I studied landscape architecture at Harvard's Graduate School of Design.

WHAT BROUGHT YOU TO OUR TOWN?
I got a job at the UO in 1942. The ad said they were looking for someone with broad environmental interests--that was me. I was teaching at Ball State University in Muncie Indiana. Eugene seemed like Paris in comparison

WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO TALK ABOUT?
Gardens, what they mean, and why they look as they do.

Dr. Helphand currently teaches numerous classes at UO. He's also completing a book on landscape architecture in Israel, and serves as editor of Landscape Journal.

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