Sara Leith-Tanous ’73
January 24, 2024

November

Three alumni photographers put their focus back on Andover
by Sara Leith-Tanous ’73

Sara Leith-Tanous’s photography has been described as projecting a “state of dream and lyrical recollection,” so commented Faculty Emeritus Kelly Wise P’80, ’83, ’86, GP’21, in his Boston Globe photography review of Leith-Tanous’s 1988 group show. Based in San Francisco, Leith-Tanous has exhibited across the United States and in Canada, most recently with the “Dreams of Transformation” exhibition at Smith Andersen North in San Anselmo, California.


Now, at sixty,
I know that feelings, however powerful, won’t do me in.
But back then,
in the tumultuous time of figuring out who I was, I clung to a few things to keep me afloat.

Making pictures with a camera that captured light on film in a darkroom where silver prints emerged magically in trays of pungent chemicals;

A few captive friends and supportive teachers, eager, or at least willing, to look at my most recent prints;

And trees,
A giant copper beech with undersides of branches light, like human arms;

Maples on either side of a narrow walk, brilliant yellow, lighting up Fall when daylight diminished;

Trees that showed no sign of wavering when they lost their leaves, when they faced winter with only skeletal limbs;

Trees that budded and burst into green when days lengthened and spring arrived.

I visited after a long absence.
Stalwart buildings were alive with new purpose.
Gone, the giant copper beech, ravaged by invisible disease. But a new one grows back—less prominent and thriving.

1 4

Categories: Alumni, Magazine

Other Stories

5 things about rabbit pond

Five Things is an Andover magazine series highlighting fun and interesting facts about the Academy's people and places.

Smiling students in the classroom
By Women. For Women.

Andover announces major philanthropy initiative