Vivian Maier. Wow.
Written by Ciara Leeming
The mystery of nanny and street photographer extraordinaire Vivian Maier is a compelling one. To learn more check out this clip and for a bit of contextual analysis read this.
Merry New Year!
The mystery of nanny and street photographer extraordinaire Vivian Maier is a compelling one. To learn more check out this clip and for a bit of contextual analysis read this.
Merry New Year!
Discussion (4 Comments)
Thanks for posting this Ciara, I totally agree, it is amazing work.
Particularly amazing when you consider she wasn’t developing and/or printing most of her work- and therefore getting back minimal feedback.
Every facet of her life and work leaves one dumbfounded…
Some are saying there must be dozens of Maiers locked away in their attics, basements and garages- I doubt that severely.
What a great find this story is – in many ways! From the brief view on the video there are some incredible pictures there and many thousands still to be seen and even more still to be devved!
Whilst it’s great to see these pictures now, it is also with a little sadness that someone so talented goes through their life without any photographic recognition. Maybe that’s how she wanted it? Maybe that’s how she wanted to spend her time on her ‘wheel’?
Also, how nice this story is when it is boxes full of prints and negs, I’m thinking it might not have the same allure if it was boxes of hardrives, maybe in a hundred years though?
Great pictures.
Ciara, thanks very much for linking to my “contextual analysis.” (You make it sound awfully impressive.)
I do think that this is an important discovery. How important? It’s early days, and we’ve seen only a fraction of Maier’s photos. Still, we’ve seen enough to know that she made photos that are wonderful to both look at and think about. That’s one sign of a true artist.
I’ll be going to Chicago for the exhibition of her work that opens in early January. I’m excited.