Summer at Tahilla Farm

It was June, and I was back at Tahilla Farm with Jeanne Henriques, which is always reason enough to make the trip.

I was there as the guest of Jeanne, who serves on the committee for Medal Day at MacDowell in Peterborough, New Hampshire. MacDowell is one of the most esteemed artist residencies in the country, and Medal Day is their annual awards celebration and fundraiser. I had attended two years before, and coming back felt like returning to something I did not want to miss. The day begins with a picnic on the grounds, and after the ceremony guests are invited to tour the studios and visit the artists in residence. For me it is one of the most inspiring days of the year. Jeanne and I always compare studios and imagine which would suit me best for the day I finally attend as a resident myself.

Back at Tahilla Farm that afternoon, we were doing what we always do on my visits, settling into the sunroom with a glass of wine. Jeanne mentioned she had been wanting new summer photos for her website, and as she said it we both noticed the light coming through the windows at exactly the right angle. We looked at each other and that was that. I asked her how fast she could change into all white while I ran to grab my camera. These are the photographs that followed.

I am not someone who typically travels heavy, but visits to Jeanne are the exception. We always have so much to share that my trunk fills up naturally with books, magazines, props, and whatever creative objects seemed worth bringing along. When Jeanne's husband offers to help carry in my bags, he is always a little surprised and perhaps slightly alarmed when I open the trunk. We played with flowers left over from a recent workshop Jeanne had hosted and experimented with the different lighting setups in her studio. As always, we overestimated how much we would accomplish and found ourselves wishing the afternoon had lasted longer.