Tess Taylor – Jan 9, 2022 Fun with Chairs

Tess Taylor used Dorothea Lange’s diaries, notes and photographs as material for a poetic dialog. She followed Lange’s routes and observed the differences, or lack of, in this fascinating collection, “LAST WEST-Roadsongs for Dorothea Lange”. Nipomo, California is the location for Dorothea Lange’s famous “Migrant Mother” photograph.

NIPOMO, SUNDAY, 2019

You're looking for the woman who shot the photo.

Yes. We know about her. My parents talk about her.

People come still, looking for her.

Like you they want to know about her.

We see 'em passing through this town,

trying to find out where she made the photo.

Guess the spot could be lots of places. Don't know where exactly.

Yes: We have a pride in her. We're proud of her.

And: I think you can find it. You can drive there.

Maybe google?

Might be over the bridge

beyond the bluff across the valley—

Find the old people. They would know.

Find them: Ask them to remember.