12.20.14 Inspiration From Photographer Nell Dorr and Artist Tasha Tudor, Friends

When I was a little child, I had two books by Tasha Tudor. 

In my adolescence, I met and grew to know, just a bit, 

Nell Dorr, a remarkable photographer

in Connecticut, with long grey hair,

two enormous Irish Wolfhounds,

an Octagonal house,

Doves living in her deepset windowsills,

and her remarkable photographs.

And I came to discover, a few years ago,

that the two of them were dear friends.

Tasha lived far up in New Hampshire,

in a house with wood heat, no running water,

four children, dogs and cats and birds,

goats and gardens, where she

made candles, sewed clothes,

and illustrated and wrote 

beautiful books to support

herself and her children.

During the war, Nell Dorr brought her children

to Tasha's house to stay for awhile.

As an adolescent, my school visited Nell Dorr's 

home and enormous gardens and long ponds,

and I wrote her a note afterwards,

thanking her for her inspiring photographs,

for having us visit, and for

her inspiring life.

She wrote me back a note on her cards with

her photographs on them, and 

sent me an inscribed book,

encouraging me.

Her work somehow sank deep inside of me,

and grew and grew, until my children

were grown, and my photographs

and writing somehow morphed,

with her influence.

She photographed her friend Tasha Tudor, as a young woman.

I am imagining they shared a great deal, despite for the most part

Tasha being in N.H., and Nell in Connecticut,

both of them pursuing their art,

and raising their children.

It was such a surprise, after finding such solace in the art of Tasha Tudor

throughout my childhood

to discover and meet Nell Dorr in adolescence,

and live, changed by how she lived her life,

thought for herself

and created photographs that were far different

than the accepted mode of photography at the time.

Only to realize in my late 50's, internet and all,

that the two were friends,

and I imagine shared a great deal.

And both nourished the live I have cherished, myself.

How often do we impact others, with no notion of it;

only aware of how others have impacted us?

Tasha Tudor's art was all about 

elaborately drawn and painted borders,

 of flowers and vines, 

streams and cats and dogs, 

happy siblings 

and a quiet, comforting life. 

They were all about 

comfort and joy.

Now, at 62, I relish their lives and their creations,

and all they have left behind for us.