Dear Johann,
Thank you so much for working with my little girl Retta. She gets nervous around people and doesn't speak much because of her clumsy tongue, but she lights up when she hears the bells of your wagon coming into our neighborhood. Me and Retta's father saved up some money and got her a nice knife for her birthday, I'm sure you'll see it next time you come through. You should have seen our faces when we discovered she'd carved up her bed posts with it! We would have tanned her hide for sure, but when we realized how well she had carved out those duck heads, we asked her to carve up our bed posts too!
We appreciate you so much, Johann. Next time you come by make sure you stop in for some stew.
Anya Torrenson
Operated by Johann Helter, The Whittler Wagon is an outreach program devised by the Structuralist Church to get the youth excited about working with their hands.
Johann Helter
Johann Helter is a gifted whittler and an even better storyteller. Born sixty-three years ago to a single mother who worked out of
The Honoroe Den, Johann spent his youth listening to drunk patrons' wild and bawdy tales. He was particularly taken by the way the best storytellers could attract an audience and hold their attention with only their words.
Johann says that his first knife was given to him by a salesman who, after spending time with Johann's mother, felt the need to tip the young lad as well. Unsure of what to even do with the knife, Johann asked his mother what purpose it served. Not wanting to encourage violent behavior, she went out to construction sites and found scrap knobs of wood for him to whittle.
It was in Honoroe Den where Johann would develop these skills and his talents became renown to the city. Soon he was approached by
Balusters that would put his love of storytelling and whittling to greater use.
The Whittler Wagon
Outfitted with scraps from construction and small knives, The Whittler Wagon stops in neighborhoods where children are encouraged the gather around and learn how to whittle. Each child is supplied with a small knife and a bit of wood to whittle into whatever shape they desire. While they do so, Johann Helter whittles and tells a story. This builds a sense of community while reinforcing the Structuralist notion that humanity can shape nature to best serve mankind.
After the story is finished Johann takes a look at the pieces and educates the children on what they can do to improve. Children who finish a craft worthy, will have their piece displayed on the side of the wagon to inspire their peers and youth in other neighborhoods.
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