Tend

Tend

My father unexpectedly passed away immediately following the 911 bombings. In quick succession after his death, two very beloved cats of mine became ill. I was taking the cats to conventional and homeopathic vets, and administering IV fluids and medications to each animal on a daily basis. At the same time I was looking for a new photographic project to begin. I started using a Spectra Polaroid camera with a soft on-camera flash to document my daily activities caring for Nicholas and Lucky. This activity became particularly poignant for me once it became obvious that both cats were terminally ill. Nick and Luck, as I called them, died within two weeks of each other right after Thanksgiving. Part of the gift of having them in my life is that they were the inspiration for this project. The Tend series documents people caring for their pets, performing small, mundane acts of daily care that nourish both participants.

These photographs were taken with a Spectra Polaroid camera, scanned and digitally output.