Portraits # 16 and 17: Charlotte and Fonzie
Charlotte Lurken
Typically, I would not enter a salon unless in need of a hair cut.
But it was the “gifts” part of Colleen’s Salon & Gifts on West Concord’s main drag that drew me into her shop in the summer of 2011.
Colleen Snaza’s dog, Fonzie
And therein I photographed Charlotte and Fonzie, whose portraits stand as favorites among the thousands of images I’ve shot through the years.
I captured a slice of small town life. A place, a woman, a dog. Ordinary. Yet extraordinary. It is the everyday that matters most to me as a photographer.
Even now, year’s after taking these portraits, I still like to study them, to focus on the details—the smile on Charlotte’s face as her eyes linger on Fonzie, whom I dubbed “The Beauty Shop Dog;” Charlotte’s polished toenails; the messy stashes of magazines and tilted hairstyling books; the puzzle of floor coverings; the woman’s tennis shoe poking into the scene on the left…
There’s so much to see, and appreciate.
Colleen may call this a “salon.” But to me, this will always be a beauty shop. For this place defines beauty, small town style.
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This is part of a series, Minnesota Faces, featured every Friday on Minnesota Prairie Roots.
© Copyright 2015 Audrey Kletscher Helbling
Minnesota Prairie Roots 
I have often wondered why women wear those big helmets in beauty salons. Is it for safety? There are things that women will never understand about men and things that men will never understand. It’s all part of what makes life so fun.
Love the photos. 🙂
For safety. Now that’s a new one. No, to dry their hair.
Glad you enjoyed the beauty shop pix.
Sorry, I just had to tease. It’s what I do. 🙂
It is great that women have been able to keep the beauty shop alive. I wish guys were as lucky with barber shops. What guy of a certain age doesn’t remember being paraded down the barber shop as a kid to be initiated into the world of men? We would sit in the big chair and listen to the banter about politics and sports – and also catch the ever so subtle way the barber would dance around the passion of both. It was a wonderful life lesson.
Oh, I caught your humor, which I enjoy immensely, BTW.
Barbershops are fantastic places. Check out this fabulous old-time barbershop I discovered in Montgomery, MN., two years ago: https://mnprairieroots.com/2013/04/07/right-out-of-mayberry-main-street-barber-in-montgomery/
Yes…..and it is in “the dailies” that we live our lives……so easy to overlook! That’s why your role is so important, dear Friend. You help us to slow a bit and really “see” in the moment!!! Hugs……….. (love that tennis shoe, also!!!!)
Thank you. You clearly understand my writing and photography.
Absolutely……”kindred spirits” using different expressions………………..
So true.
🙂 Fonzie center frame makes the photo.
It was Fonzie, above all, who drew me to photograph this scene.
What a sweet post! I’m with you… a salon might be the new and modern word but the beauty shop era takes me back to a special place in my youth.
Thank you. I remember going to a beauty shop only once as a girl and not for myself. I don’t remember why I was there. But Evelyn was the owner, a lovely woman with a perfect beehive of reddish-tinted hair.
You seriously need to reserve a space and display your Minnesota Faces photography 🙂 Happy Weekend – Enjoy 🙂
The thought has crossed my mind. Want to help with grant writing? That’s my obstacle.
I can write, but grant writing is on another level. Maybe someone reading today knows of someone that is good with grant writing – have my fingers crossed.
I just need to take that big giant step forward. I appreciate your confidence in my work.
I am right there with you in needing to take some giant steps and leaps forward 🙂
Great photo’s Audrey! The everyday stuff that we tend to ignore, I loved scanning the first photo, I noticed the random foot sticking out on the Left corner, and are those little children’s books on the bottom shelf of the end table?
Thanks, Jackie. Those look like children’s books to me. Good catch. I didn’t even notice those.
Wonderful pictures. Looks like a step back in time, too.
Thank you. It did feel like a step back in time.
What a fun place to highlight life in your photo jouney that captures life in a small town. This reminds me of a scene right out of the movie Steel Magnolias. And I TOTALLY agree with others you should find a home for your Minnesota Faces project. 🙂
Thank you, Sue. The comparison to Steel Magnolias seems appropriate.
Those pictures remind me so of the beauty shop my Mom used to go to when I was a child. Oh the thoughts I had of those ladies with those “helmets” on their heads! I must say Audrey your Minnesota Faces stirs up memories from my childhood that I thought I had forgotten. Thanks for doing that –
You are welcome. I always thought of those dryers as “helmets”, too.
Minnesota Faces will be back next Friday.