Modigliani

Tasha's braiding is beautiful, the first thing I saw that was different about her since I saw her last Christmas in San Francisco.

She says braiding takes the better part of a day, and lasts a month "if you take care of it."

When I asked if I could take her picture while we were relaxing in Spencer's backyard in Salt Lake City, where they live with Trayvion, 3, and a new puppy, she said, "sure."

I found it almost impossible to capture the intricacy of the braids, how the fields of hair were woven so perfectly front to back, following the shape of Tasha's head so that there appeared to be no beginning or end to them.

Modigliani made a series of paintings--"Young Girl with Braids" or "Woman with Braids" or some like title--and I understood his fascination as I studied Tasha's braids.