Loren Kellen

We honor the life of our departed friend, brother, teacher, lover and hero, Loren Kellen, who left us on October 2, 2009. Please help honor Loren by sharing a story about our fabulous friend. You can write a comment or a memory of Loren on the comments page.

Memorial Fund

Information about the Loren Kellen Memorial Fund is now available on its own page on this site.

for Loren

… a poem by Anita White

yes, Loren is gone
gone
Hard to imagine
or really know

even after the solemn procession
and the big community grieving

AND the CELEBRATION OF HIS GREAT AND WONDERFUL LIFE!!!

Terry McDaniel videos of individual expressions at the memorial service.

by Terry McDaniel.
I made a little video with parts from the Memorial for Loren. I thought what the family said was very powerful and the whole memorial was amazing.

Here’s some photos of Loren Kellen used at the November 8 celebration at the Cedar Cultural Center. Thanks to all who sent photos, and to all of the photographers!

THANKS

A poem by Loren Kellen, from Bruce Blacher
Much has been said about Loren… and all is true and so much more…
This summer I had a birthday and Loren gave me one of his cement faces

Video by Terry McDaniel.
Loren at the annual May 1 (actual MayDay) Morris Dance sunrise gathering, Mississippi River. He speaks about the importance of observing holidays on the day they occur.

Photos of a few of Loren Kellen’s creations from his ever-changing garden. Photographed on October 6, 2009 by Liz Welch.

This 1961 poem by Claes Oldenburg and Emmet Williams was found, typewritten and weathered, among Loren’s papers.
I am for an art that is political-erotical-mystical, that does something other than sit on its ass in a museum.

Loren Kellen in Doug Cain's Knight of Cups

Video by Doug Cain

This is one of my earlier projects. A collaboration with Loren which kept us linked over four seasons. It premiered at his birthday party along Jamaca Rd. near Withrow.

by Xena Huff
St. Paul Bike Classic 9/13/09
This was a really nostalgic moment for me. This Flamingo was always the meeker less vibrant flamingo of the bunch.

Loren, that Rascal

There is no one like him in this world and probably no one like him in the next. I just wonder who else could come up with names for us like : Jerry Werle and wary girly?

A Story from Randy Hanson

I’ve been living in faraway places for a decade, finding my way to Duluth this past year. Prior to these journeys I spent 16 years in Mpls. I was lucky enough to know Loren, to get to know and spend time with him in work, art, Mayday, and many other things. Loren provided [...]

I took this photo of Loren working on Pete’s patio. He knew what to do and took charge.
photo by Ernie Gunderson

Loren the Trickster.

by Yiscah Bracha.
Loren loved to disrupt the composure of others. One year during the rehearsal for the MayDay ceremony, he surreptitiously placed a black and white skull-and-crossbones flag on the same pole that carried the sun,

A Poem for Loren

A Poem For Loren
by nathan anderson
Gallant … oaks of deliberate wisdom… all quirky limbed…dropping acorns.
Inspiring… fiery maples blazing… breathtaking… sweet sap running.

photos by Ewart from the Brule River

by David Roy
Loren always had the time to talk to a friend or to make a new friend. He was kind to everyone, full of knowledge, helpful, and had many talents and friends.

Man on the Moon

by Peter Henry
Seven hundred moons in Loren’s eyes,
Ten thousand years, one hundred ways wise.
Yellow Medicine County and the Kellen farm bore this bearded child,
A maker of masks, master of dances–archetypical man-wild.

Loren Kellen vanishes at his Summer’s Last Sunday gathering, September 20, 2009
Video by Casey Miller

Autumn Painting Thinking of Loren by Anita White

-poem by Anita White
Yes, that’s how it was….
…………for Loren…….

-by Mark Safford
Loren was Prometheus as inventor, Sisyphus as performer, Apollo as the bringer of the sun, Lover in the truest sense of the word and a vital energy that this world needs to stay in balance. Loren shared and his swing was a testament to his confidence and ability in life’s pleasures. He was [...]

by Sandy Spieler
Loren!! Honor and Love to you as you journey into a great mystery!! Thank you for leaving your vibrant influence and indelible mark on so much of the life here at the theatre—exuberant , passionate vision and energy, inventive construction techniques, sweet friendship, generous hard work, instigation of infectious dance and celebration. You [...]

by Mike Klein
My only personal interaction with Loren was a memorable two-hour interview in his garden on May 1, 2008. He was very hospitable, gracious, funny, and inspiring. I’m sending along the transcription of that interview so that you can pass it along to whomever might benefit from reading his words and remembering his voice. [...]

by Yiscah Bracha
Loren had a date to paddle on Lake Hiawatha, Sunday at sunset. His companions decided to keep the date, and word spread through the community. The ingathering of people and boats was like the early morning gathering at the park building on Powderhorn Lake to set up the Sun Flotilla at the culmination [...]

A video slideshow tribute to Loren Kellen, featuring various photos of one of Loren’s favorite creations, the Flamingo Bicycle.

Cap’n Bobber Loren Kellen on the Sun Flotilla, MayDay 2007. Photo by Finn Ryan

Loren at Sunset

Video by Terry McDaniel from a memorial paddle around Lake Hiawatha in honor of Loren Kellen on October 4, 2009.
The participants all wore hats from Loren’s hat collection.

Photos from a memorial paddle around Lake Hiawatha in honor of Loren Kellen on October 4, 2009.
The participants all wore hats from Loren’s hat collection.

← Previous Entries

liz white: Seven months will have passed by this MayDay celebration. He will be there in many different ways. Sister Liz
Celia Swanson: Six months on and I still cry when I look at all these pictures. He is gone, but he isn’t. He’s still all over my life, in my...
Cindy Weldon: I live in Loren’s neighborhood, and only now learned of his passing. How sad to know that he will not be emerging from the...
lisa: He’s still gone. (The only poem I have been able to complete about Loren thus far.)
Yiscah Bracha: I look at these photos and I still can’t believe that he’s gone.
Mark John: Road Kill. That is what was under the seat of the Incredible Hulk the day after Loren left the Circle of Water Circus tour. Loren was the...
Celia Swanson: Come dance on the floor that Loren built! It’s time once again for my annual SHAKE THE STUFFING OUT OF YOU PARTY! When: Friday, Nov. 27...
Marie Olofsdotter: When I think about Loren, I think about his watery blue eyes, his laughter and hearty hugs. I see him driving the green Hulk all those...
Roger Cuthbertson: I regret that I was unable to make it to the memorials for Loren. Fortunately for me, this web site that Nick has maintained has given me...
Karen Lehman: The first time I remember meeting Loren was at a dance in St. Paul with Lucinda Anderson in the late 70s. Right away it was clear how much of...
Mary Jo Nikolai: Riding off into the Sun The last time I saw Loren was at ‘9 Nights of Music’ at the Minnesota History Center. It was August 18th...
Robert Anderson: I was a neighbor of Loren, but unfortunately I never got to know him very well. Now that I have learned of his death and have read about his...
Craig Johnson: Last Spring, I sat with my friend Betty on her patio overlooking the Mississippi. We were relishing the sun, the blue water, and the greenery...
N.M.Kelby: Loren was the kindest old soul I have ever known. When I worked with HOBT, he went out of his way to make me feel that I belonged. He showed me...
Ketti Menne: I love the statement about the plastic rats! What a guy!
Doug Cain: Good ol’ Loren ! A gentle yet wild soul ! I loved Nick W.’s comments, I was part of the magical Circle of Water Circus and remember...
Christopher D. Lutter-Gardella: Loren made me feel at home, hear on Earth.
Nick Wroblewski: As an impressionable, young, aspiring circus performer, I witnessed Loren as the alchemical, quirky, salt of the earth fellow that he was....
sandy spieler: Of course I am filled with gratitude for all the flamboyant ways Loren contributed to the work of our theatre (in the Heart of the Beast...
Wendy Nylander: I knew Loren from Contra dancing where we would have so much fun dancing our way down the line. I also had the chance to visit his house a...
Anne Tiller: Loren also could be called Lord of the Dance. Anyone who has danced with him can attest to his wild energy and sense of abandon. When I danced...
Carol Janeway: Loren was my older brother who annoyed and irritated me when I was young. I watched him go off to a war which I did not understand-I just knew...
Lara Norkus-Crampton: When we bought our then trashed out house almost 20 years ago–Lauren helped us with our first project: repairing the collapsed...
Lynne Jeske: My family was fortunate to have been Loren’s next door neighbor for several years. “Owen” as we called Loren, made a...
Spruce: I first met Loren dancing — it was a time when I was newly single and struggling with life. Loren reminded me that life was an adventure and a...
Ernie Gunderson: When I was new to the community, Loren was always friendly and greeted me with a bright smile. He made me feel liked and welcome even though...
Kurt Seaberg: One of my earliest memories of Loren goes back to when I was just starting to participate in May Day celebrations in the mid 1980s. I was a sun...
Janet Johnson: Stan, Thanks for sharing your memories with Loren. It is really good to hear from family! Your brother is so very loved, he brought the best...
Stan Kellen: Loren and I were several years apart but still had many great times together. I was always the more serious one, but I always admired his free...
laurel: The first time I meet Loren at his home, I had just gotten a pretty good jolt from moving to the twin cities from the woods in rural MI and was...
karn kristi: Dear Loren, I speak with you often these days. It seems that many of our landmarks all over the city now have your name on them. Of course every...
Celia Swanson: Calling all former clients of Loren Kellen!! As part of the Memorial Celebration of the life of Loren Kellen, we would like to highlight his...
suzanne lauer: I remember spending time with Loren about 15 years ago when my three kids were ten years old and under. Loren had a sandbox in the yard with...
Celia Swanson: One of the (many) gifts that Loren’s way of living in the world gave to me is his ability to SEE things…not as what they...
Val and Jerry Vagts: We moved in across the street from Loren in 2003. One sunny day shortly after we moved in Loren appeared at our doorstep…bare...
Nathan Anderson: A Poem For Loren by Nathan Anderson Gallant …oaks of deliberate wisdom, all quirky limbed…dropping acorns. Inspiring…fiery...
Mark Phillips: I’m saddened to hear of Loren’s passing, which I just found out about from a friend’s email. I moved from the Twin Cities to...
Anne Tiller: Loren came to my 50th birthday party, gosh, that was 10 years ago already! There were 4 guests at my party who were 50 years old, including...
Celia Swanson: Oh…and you HAVE to love Kermit giving Miss Piggy what-for! That was right next to his front gate. Welcome to Loren’s Yard!!!
Celia Swanson: So wonderful! I will miss Loren’s house and yard, as well as the man himself, so very much. Inspiration, chaos, silliness, weird...
yiscah: Cecilia: Loren and I began our relationship in the Fall of 1986, and as we were getting to know each other, he often told the story of the furnace,...
Cecilia Schiller: I was on staff for Mayday 1985, the theme was Our House our Home with sections being all the rooms of the house and their reflections in...
Dave Foster: An amazingly beautiful poem & tribute–full of insight, music & love! Thank you!
Jeanne LaBore: Dear Loren, On Monday nights I’ll search the crowd for you Where ever you are… Save a dance for me?
Lydia Olchoff: Whenever Loren was around, suddenly I felt BEAUTIFUL!! Thank you, Loren… : )
Maren: Loren will always shine. When May Day comes His boat,his oars,his love For all the chores he did With careful precision For all the fun we had With...
Nanci Olesen: Loren was a radiant member of the Circle of Water Circus troupe in 1983. I remember what a good camper he was and the way he always got the...

A Tribute

We honor the life of our departed friend, brother, teacher, lover and hero, Loren Kellen, who left us on October 2, 2009. Please help honor Loren by sharing a story about our fabulous friend. You can write a comment or a memory of Loren on the comments page.

Memorial Fund

for Loren

Expressions from the memorial

Loren’s Memorial at the Cedar – Family Shares

Loren’s Celebration Slideshow

THANKS

Life is a Puzzle

Comment from Loren on May 1, 2009

Photos from Loren’s Garden

I am for an art

The Knight of Cups

Last Ride of the Pink Flamingo

Loren, that Rascal

A Story from Randy Hanson

Loren Working on Pete’s Patio

Loren the Trickster.

A Poem for Loren

Big splashy waves

Loren….a multi-faceted gem

Man on the Moon

Loren Vanishes

Yes, that’s how it was…

Sail On, Loren

Loren!! Honor and Love to You

Interview with Loren Kellen

Paddling with Loren

When Death Comes

Sun Flotilla 2007

Loren at Sunset

Loren’s Flotilla

Loren Kellen Memorial Fund

Interview with Loren

Recent Messages