I met this lovely woman in a small writers’ group. Besides writing poetry and nonfiction, she taught at a nearby college. Our group would get together weekly to read our works-in- progress for each other’s feedback. Michele’s readings at the time consisted of personal memoir chapters that revealed a little of her background—adopted, a teenage runaway, who then put herself through college and law school while attempting to find her blood relatives. All her stories filled me with admiration for her determination and capabilities. A couple of the stories alluded to violence in the past. But, there was nothing that prepared me for the violence and the deplorable living conditions this quiet, soft smiling woman had survived. Her memoir, Walk Away impressed upon me how courageous she was in her childhood how courageous she was in her childhood, and how courageous she is now to write and share her story.

This author is the next blog guest. Upon finishing her book, I immediately wanted to ask Michele to share her comments for my “Why Create” series. Did her misery in earlier life drive her urge to create, as we have learned was the case for so many of our famous creators?

In Gloria McDarrah's book, The Photography Encyclodedia, "Art photography: photography that is done as a fine art--that is, done to express the artist's perceptions and emotions and to share them with others."

With a few minutes to spare before getting home to make dinner, I ducked into a local gallery to see the exhibition. It didn’t take long in the small, white walled gallery to see the well framed and intriguing photographs displayed around the room. I stood in the middle of the space and with one swoop tried to take them all in. As I turned to head for the door, my momentum halted, grabbed by an image with a setting of snow and birch trees. In this photo a slender, black haired woman in a red mandarin dress stood in sharp contrast to the white winter scene.

I walked closer. Her perfectly postured back faced the camera. One leg was in a position suggesting impending movement. I was beguiled. For one, I love the color red. Secondly, I love that cut of dress. And thirdly, I wanted to know where the woman was going. Who was she? Why be out in the snow without a jacket?

Forgetting about making dinner, I looked at all the other photographs and read the small brochure on the table. Her name is Ni Rong. Her photographs are self-portraits.  I wanted to meet this photographer.

Overtime, I came to know Ni. During a charming and delicious Chinese lunch on her stone patio overlooking Rockport, Maine harbor, she shared her portfolio with me and told me of her search for identity through her photography. The three photographs shown here hang on my wall. I believe they tell a story. I treasure these images that serve as a daily reminder that many of us are doing just that—searching for our identity through our creativity. And I treasure the friendship that came out of that serendipitous gallery visit several years ago.

Again, I have chosen an artist—a painter—for my second posting of this series, “Why Create?” My plan had been to feature a photographer or composer. But, this artist, Marie Tapert, and my first subject, Dudley Zopp had sent comments so similar that I thought it might be compelling to publish them one after the other. Also, because I have known Marie for more than fifty years, appreciating her work and watching it grow as she explores. I realized that her approach is similar to Dudley’s. Both of them are not afraid to try different media, different styles, seeking a new level that is powerful and fitting. Yet, both remain true to their individual philosophies.

I recently visited Dudley Zopp’s studio. Her work, creativity and energy lingered with me for several weeks. So, for my first interview for this blog series, “Why Create?” I chose Dudley, a painter. Her beautiful, well-organized studio is indicative of her productivity. And I love her work. I chose the following quote by Robert Henri, a painter and teacher at the turn of the 20th, as I thought it captured Dudley’s approach to art making.

“The object isn’t to make art, it’s to be in that wonderful state which makes art inevitable.” -Robert Henri, a painter and teacher at the turn of the 20th century

The following is Dudley’s expressive and eloquent response to “why did you become an artist?” and “why do you paint?"