A R D E N

sub-title?

Casey Orr

h e p e o p l e p h o t o g r a p h e d h e r e l i v e i n t h e e x -

tended community of Arden that welcomed Boff, myself and ourkids in 2010 –11.

What informs the portraits is the optimism, idealism, and simplicityinherent in this ‘village’ and how these things sit within modernAmerica with its constant expansion, the individual ever movingforward, and the rampant capitalism that has engulfed Americanculture, nature and its communities.

I’m interested in this community out of time and out of place, andyet still incredibly American. Many people here live within theirextended families, including my own. I live and work in Britain butArden is where my mother and sister live – so Arden feels like home,with its hot wet air and its trees heavy with the song of the cicadas. Ahome that, to the people who live there, is more than just a home.

These people aren’t by definition visionaries, idealists or Utopians –these are ordinary people living, each in their different ways, in an extraordinary place.

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June

June moved to Arden in 1953. Both of her children went to the Arden school– she feels that the school’s progressive, open-minded curriculum was a greatstart for them. June is a member of the Scholars Gild and the Dinner Gild aswell as being active with the Arden Library and Museum. She plays theaccordion, leads the annual Halloween parade, races annually in the Fourth ofJuly celebrations (over 70 category), goes to a movie every Thursday eveningand occasionally plays piano at the Buzz Coffee House. She feels, she says, as ifshe has slowed down. June is 89 years old.

The Arden Sharks

The Arden Sharks are Arden’s swim team. They compete locally throughoutthe summer season. Most Arden children are members of the team and manyof the older Arden families have a few generations of Sharks swimmers. Beforethe pool was built – 40 years ago – Ardenites swam in the creek.

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Wally

Wally is the owner of the resale shop, Wally’s World, which deals in recycledgold and anything else you might be looking for. Anything you need, just goto Wally’s garage and he will probably have it! He can fix your car or rewireyour lamp – basically, he says, he can do anything. I asked him to describehimself: “Charming and very sexy!”

Lily

Lily, 13, is an actress, singer and active member of ACRA, the ArdenRecreation and Community Association. ACRA – which runs solely ondonations – organizes an annual summer camp for Arden kids with crafts,swimming, theatre and music as well as other events throughout the year. Lilyis a former member of the Arden Sharks but is too busy with her acting to bepart of the swim team this year.

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George

George has been the caretaker at the Gild Hall for 20 years. He is active in theConcert Gild and started the Arden Musicfest in 2003, an annual one-daysummer festival.

The Yoder family

Twin brothers David and Bart sit on the porch of their family home withNakona, Ohana and Ryan. They rebuilt the house their father built in 1960

after it was destroyed in a fire, and the two families now live here and in asmaller dwelling behind which was originally their father’s workshop.

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The Hurlong Hannum family

Julie is a seamstress and upholsterer. She is pictured here with her daughter Lilaand granddaughters Emily and Liana. Together they live in the house thatJulie’s father built. Julie and her husband Jeff, who himself is a fifth generationArdenite, both attended the Arden school until it was closed in 1973. They feelthat Arden is very different from the way it was when they were growing up,and that the town has lost some of its sense of community – they’re puttingthe house up for sale and moving to the beach.

Serena and Mylie

Serena and Mylie live with their parents and older brother in a house by thewoods. Their parents (their father is German, their mother Hawaiian) movedto Arden because its green spaces, houses and woods reminded them of aEuropean village. Their family is very involved in the Arden community; thechildren are on the swim team and participate in the ACRA summer camp.

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Shane, Seth and Sidney

Seth is a former regional swimming champion and his children can be foundmost summer days at the Arden pool. His parents, originally from Holland,moved to Arden in 1966. His children Sidney and Shane are both excellentswimmers and are third generation Arden children.

Skye Bird

Skye Bird lives in Arden with her mother, father and grandmother. She lovesto play dress-up and play on the Arden playground.

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Mike

Mike, an Arden trustee, is a third generation Ardenite. He went to the ArdenSchool and is an expert in Georgist theory, which he teaches in Arden andother East Coast institutions. He heads the Georgist Gild, is a storyteller and isoften seen riding around the township on his bicycle. He’s the man you go toif you need to know anything about Arden.

New Sweden

The band New Sweden, named after the original Scandinavian Delawaresettlers, are photographed here in the Arden library. The library is funded bycommunity donations and hosts readings for children.

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Edmund

Edmund, Arden baker and chef and member of the Dinner Gild, grew up inArden. He’s photographed here in the kitchen with his Shakespeare cookies,prepared especially for the annual Shakespeare production at Arden’s open-airtheatre. The Shakespeare Gild has been performing for over 100 years inArden.

Mary

Mary is an artist.  When not painting, sculpting, sewing and making jewellery,she’s walking in the woods and along the train tracks. She has five grownchildren and has lived in Arden for six years.

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Victoria and Makalya

Victoria and baby Makalya live with Makalya's brother Christopher andfather, Chris. Makalya is a sixth generation Arden baby. They live in the housethat their great-grandfather built.

Phil

Phil is a welder and an artist. His metal sculptures greet passersby from theedges of the main road through the village. He also makes memorials forArden pets when they die – he’s made 78 so far. He lives with his daughter andbaby granddaughter.