Embedded Files
A Zoom Chat
Helen De Cruz was a trailblazer for creative, avant-garde approaches to thinking in community with others. This event celebrates her contributions.
Tues June 24th, 2025
11am - 12.20pm Central Time
(That is, starting at 5pm BST)
Go Fund Me for Helen's family
Update II: The online memorial will be in September, organised by Blake Hereth and Michelle Lyn Panchuk. Details will be advertised on Daily Nous, Philos-L, etc., or you can add your email here for the mailing list.
_________
Update I: Helen passed away this afternoon (June 20th). I am camping, and I cannot update this website properly.
We will continue with the event.
People gather in mourning. In the moments after the death of loved ones, in community, we gather. It is what humans do.
The philosophy community is spread across the world, and Helen's fostered a rich online community, through Twitter and other social media. And, thus, we will gather online.
A community is spread out. A community is online. And thus we will gather online.
Tuesday, 11am.
Helen helped to design the event. The current plan is to continue with the line-up as scheduled, with the expert guests, one or two poems, and so on.
Helen had very much wanted to be there. I guess on some metaphysical accounts, she is.
The room will stay open for as long as people wish, and we can create break out rooms too.
_______
All welcome! No background knowledge required. You need not know Helen or her work, or have a background in philosophy.
Special Guest: Helen De Cruz, if her illness allows
Expert Guests: Julianne Chung (York University) York University, Gwendolyn Marshall (Florida International University), Caleb Ward (University of Hamburg), & Jennifer Whyte (Duke University).
Facilitated by Georgi Gardiner (Tulane)
_______________________________________
This is a grassroots event. If you would like to contribute to the event vibe, such as by reading a short poem or introducing an artwork, feel free to get in touch.
If you would like a particular image or topic to be discussed, please email me.
Please note that this is not a memorial event. It is (best understood as) a public philosophy/art event. To the best of my knowledge, Helen is alive; she was involved in the earlier organisational stages of this event.
Helen is in hospice care. If there is a publicly advertised memorial, I will post the details here. [Update: Blake Hereth is organising an online memorial. It will be in September.]
Artwork & books featured include
Philosophy Illustrated, which contains 42 illustrations of influential thought experiments.
Illustrations for Margaret Cavendish’s The Blazing World, an early sci-fi utopia (from 1666) which concerns gender & sexuality and might feature a sapphic relationship.
Helen created this video, featuring her artworks, that describes the book.
Wonderstruck, which explores how the emotions of wonder and awe help us make sense of the world and "enable us to engage with the world as if we are experiencing it for the first time."
Illustrations of Zhuangzi's ideas, and other ideas in Asian philosophy.
Helen made this video
More Information
Will Helen be there?
That is the plan. The symptoms of illness can be unpredictable. But, assuming that she is feeling up to it that day, she will be there.
Who can attend?
Everyone is welcome. You need not know Helen or her work. You do not need any background in philosophy or thinking about images. This event is free and open to the public. No need to RSVP.
Each topic of the selected images will be (very briefly) explained. And so the event will be accessible to all.
I want to help. What can I do?
Helping to spread the word about this event will be — by far — the biggest help. The lead time is short. Helen and I are both very limited in how much we can advertise this event.
Given the breadth of Helen's influence, and the distinct nature of the event and its surrounding circumstances, many people from disparate communities might like to attend. Please help by letting them know about it. We would be very grateful.
Links to share: Flyer Facebook Instagram Twitter Webpage BlueSky (Robin Zebrowski) BlueSky (Quill Kukla) Facebook Event
Do I need to prepare or bring anything?
No, just turn up to the Zoom address.
Do I need to have my camera on?
No. But (like all Zoom events and social events) if the number of attendees is small, it is better when people can see each other.
Do I need to say anything, or can I just listen?
You can just listen. This is a grassroots event, and people are invited to speak. But no pressure to speak!
Can I join for only part of it?
Sure thing.
I have an accessibility question, what should I do?
We would like to make this event accessible. Please let me know what would help. We could describe the images for visually impaired participants, for example.
What is the structure of this event?
Here is a rough idea. It will be a lightly-held plan, with low-key facilitation.
Julianne and Gwen will briefly introduce Helen's overall work.
Then we will talk about approx 4-8 images.
I will share my screen, so each image can be seen.
Three people (Gwen, Julianne, and me) are assigned to introduce the selected works, or provide background if required. (Feel free to join this team. Email me to be added.)
We will chat, as a full group, about each artwork in turn.
At some point, Caleb Ward (University of Hamburg) will read a poem by Andre Lorde, and explain briefly how Helen connects this poem to her ideas.
After the assigned time, the Zoom room will remain open for further chat, and people are free to stay as long as they like.
If you would like to contribute, by introducing an image or topic to discuss — or in some other way — please contact me.
Page updated
Google Sites
Report abuse