Portland Community College | Portland, Oregon

Jasmine Hughes

I was 17 when I took my first class from Dick. It was my first experience with sculpture. A few weeks into the term I was at the belt sander working on my first wood piece. Minutes before, Dick had given a lecture on the safe use of power tools in the sculpture studio. No sooner had I started sanding but the wood got away from me, and I caught my knuckle. Dick was there immediately, totally calm, helping me clean and bandage my finger. I was worried that he may never let me near the studio, much less the power tools, again. But instead of suggesting I pursue a safer artistic medium (drawing perhaps?), he smiled, laughed and showed me a (much larger) scar on his own knuckle and told me the story of how he received it while demonstrating the safe use of a saw in front of an entire class. I still have a scar on my finger, and that story is one of my favorite to tell.

I remember that Dick was able to take any artistic disaster and turn it into a new opportunity. He gave me my first piece of stone to carve; it was pale green soapstone, telling me that it was soft and easy to carve. So carve away I did, loving every minute of it, until disaster struck. While carving the arm near the back of the figures’ head, I struck at precisely the wrong spot. The entire forearm and back of hear head came off. I panicked; I actually remember asking him if gluing the missing piece back on was an option. He smiled, quite bemused I’m sure, and said “yeah, that happens,” helped me figure out a way to re-work the pose, and in the end it all came out okay. I loved Dick’s classes so much because they were always so much fun, he always encouraged us, he pushed us to figure our way, thru exploration and experience. Whenever I asked him, “will this work?” his answer was always “try it and see what happens.”

Later, I went on to study for a BFA in painting at a private art college. Three years of school left me frustrated and miserable and I eventually dropped out. Reflecting back on my time here in the art program, I can see why. It is easy to lose your way in a “professional” private art institution. I was easily caught up in the need to always make great art, to make a statement and be a success. Now I know the gift that Dick and the other teachers here gave to me. The most important reason for me to keep art a part of my life is not so be a success and make a statement, but to make it simply for the joy of making something beautiful. Thank you, I am a better artist and a better person for having known you and studied with you.

Ji-Min Lee

Dick was always there every moment
when we needed a word, he spoke
when we needed a sign, he smiled at us.
He was always watching us like our grandfather
and giving endless love like our parent.

Thank you for showing us your heart;
we’ll show you our heart as your follower.

He makes me conscious of Art being real and makes my mind awake as my eyes to see.

Thank you.

Trudy Jacobs

Dick Helzer was my sculpture teacher from 2002 (or earlier) till 2004 and he was just a joy to be around. His teaching style was not intrusive but he could connect with any student. His real skill was in not worrying about what was not happening but in enjoying what was going on. He let the students know that he thought he had a great job and what fun it was to play with clay, rock, and wood.

The great thing was that just when you thought he was totally easy going he would critique your piece in such a way that knew he had “the goods” in the knowledge department too, He had a great eye for anatomy. He really helped me in looking at how my piece was formed and how it could or could not work with muscular and skeletal anatomy. Most important, he did it in such a way that I would think of it myself in working on another piece, which is the hardest jump to make in working on your own. I wish that he didn’t give the example of how important it is not to put off connecting with someone you think will “always be there.”

I had been planning on taking sculpture with Dick this fall and it is really hard to realize that he isn’t here at Rock Creek with his marble and granite and bright purple truck fenders in the sculpture room.

Sheila Warren

Whenever I visit the gallery, I’ll remember all the wonderful days spent in the life sculpture lab where Dick made spirits dance and your soul to sing with the joy of creation.

Matt Cole

I met a man who smiled from beneath a silver beard,
Who changed the way I thought,
The way I felt.
I listened as he so wisely spoke.
I watched tough, worn hands move gently across canvas and stone.
I learned from his actions, his stories, his thoughts.
So fortunate am I to have met this man so kind, so devoted to the spirit of art.
So full of life.
This husband,
This father,
This teacher.

Thank you Mr. Helzer