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| About Us |
| River |
| We are a family of artists carrying on a love of art and invention dating back to the early 19th century and passing through the bloodline of both the Klappenbachs and the Hailes. On the Klappenbach side, Karl Freidrich Hermann Lungkwitz and Freidrich Richard Petri were fellow art students, brothers-in-law, and friends. Emigrating from Dresden,Germany in 1850 to America, their stories becoming intertwined though their art styles were quite different. Petri's skill was evident in the portraits he painted, while Lungkwitz found his niche painting landscapes. On the Haile side of the family invention and art became more personal and much closer to home. Known affectionately as "Doc" to those who flew with him. F.R. Haile was an inventor and a risk-taker. From homeade ferris wheels that entertained his own children, to wire toys to entertain us grandchildren he stood out in our collective history. Granddaddy, Grandmother, and Mom continued a creative legacy through the beautiful crafts and handmade items. Today, the children and grandchildren continue to love much of what they loved about art and invention and continue to appreciate what technology can never replace. Though technology takes away some of the sounds and textures of those days it provides in its place a way to share and remember together . |