A recent post on Lens, the NY Times photo blog had a certain deja vu quality, the distinct quality of things remembered. But the thing remembered was not just the image but also coming face to face with unflinching honesty.
The post by James Estrin was about the remarkable photographer Patricia Lay-Dorsey confronting (even challenging) her advancing age with her camera –– and without blinking. It's a remarkable story and a remarkable read. See Estrin's story here: http://lens.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/11/09/showcase-74/ And see Patricia Lay-Dorsey's wonderful photographs here: http://www.patricialaydorsey.com/Artist.asp?ArtistID=22987&Akey=Q7HKRV3H Now for the deja vu. A couple of decades ago I saw almost precisely the same reaction and the same courage in Kansas artists Elizabeth Layton. The image in the mirror was just so familiar. Not the face so much, but the steely determination. I had seen that fortitude before and it came from Elizabeth, looking at her body and her life, worts and all.
You can see more of her drawings here: http://elizabethlayton.com/
Honesty, courage, and beauty: worth remembering and worth celebrating. Jim
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