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Born on November 12th in Windsor, Vermont, Dahlov Ipcar was the daughter of William and Marguerite Zorach, well-known artists. Although they encouraged their daughter's artistic talent, they didn't want her formally trained. Instead, Dahlov attended progressive schools such as City and Country School, Walder, and Lincoln School of Teachers College at Columbia in New York City.
She married an accountant, Adolph Ipcar, at the age of 18 and persuaded him to try life as a farmer. The couple moved to Maine and farmed there for 30 years. Adolph and Dahlov Ipcar had two sons, Robert and Charles.
In 1939, Ms. Ipcar had her first solo exhibition at the Museum of Modern Art in New York City. In 1945, she illustrated her first picture book for Margaret Wise Brown, The Little Fisherman. Since then, she has written and illustrated more than thirty picture books. She also writes fantasy novels, including Dark Horn Blowing.
In 1972, Dahlov and her husband together received the Maine Governor's Award for "significant contributions to Maine in the broad field of the arts and humanities." She has also received three honorary degrees from The University of Maine, Colby, and Bates Colleges. In April of 1998, The University of Minnesota honored Dahlov with The Kerlan Award for Children's literature.
You may find Ms. Ipcar's books at Down East Books. Reprints of many of her books are available from Island Port Press, including: Little Fisherman, The Cat at Night, Hardscrabble Harvest, The Calico Jungle, and My Wonderful Christmas Tree.
—Terri DeGezelle |
