"About Vivian Maier"

pdeeh · Jan 14, 2016

It is amazing what people will project onto others.

So far as I know, there is a bit of anecdotal evidence from a few people who met her that she wasn't straightforward and could be a bit off-key or difficult sometimes.

How we get from that to being "dysfunctional" (whatever that means ) or being plagued with "inner demons" I have no idea.

Sigh ...

Bob Carnie · Jan 14, 2016

I agree, I have been in the position of working with photographers for my entire career - 2016 makes it 40 years.

Over these years one can imagine the numbers that I have met. quite frankly there are many untold , unheard bodies of work out there that will never see the light of day.
IMO the biggest barrier is finances- as it is really difficult to keep one afloat day to day, as well be creative and make work for others to see and navigating the world of the gallery's.

I think Vivian did what she could and I do not find her lifestyle to be that quirky , but one of an artist obsessed with capturing her surroundings.

I keep thinking about The Christmas Carol - where Scrooge would work every day... sometimes I feel like that as I am in my lab every single day except Christmas, this year I
went in Boxing day.
I always ask my wife if its okay with her that I spend every single day working on images. Many would describe me as a workaholic crazy or a nut job for being like this, I basically
think I fell in love with photography, and there is a burning desire to continue imaging. I am obsessed with what I do for a living but as well as a creative outlet .

Obviously Vivian had that desire and I can assure everyone here there are thousands of people pursuing photography that fall into this description.

pdeeh said:
It is amazing what people will project onto others.

So far as I know, there is a bit of anecdotal evidence from a few people who met her that she wasn't straightforward and could be a bit off-key or difficult sometimes.

How we get from that to being "dysfunctional" (whatever that means ) or being plagued with "inner demons" I have no idea.

Sigh ...

MattKing · Jan 14, 2016

I think the reference to "dysfunctional" was to her family.

And it is the complexity of that family that complicates the legal issues surrounding her work.

I agree with Bob about the quality of her work, and envy him his opportunity to print some of it.

Bob Carnie · Jan 14, 2016

Jeffrey Goldstein graciously allowed me to print a small edition of pt pd of one of Vivian's self portraits. This was done to help me raise money to move my lab. He is IMO an unsung hero .So in fact
Vivian has helped me in my pursuits, as well she is hanging in my darkroom overlooking what we do each day.

Also I have made silver prints from a private EBay collection, that was purchased before anyone knew who Vivian Maier was. This collection is quite nice and is 40 images strong.

For the collection that Jeffrey owned , Ron Gordon is the printer of record, I have met Ron a couple of times and he visited my darkroom , suffice to say he is like a Brother from another mother- All printers
can talk for hours about photographers.

MattKing said:
I think the reference to "dysfunctional" was to her family.

And it is the complexity of that family that complicates the legal issues surrounding her work.

I agree with Bob about the quality of her work, and envy him his opportunity to print some of it.

pdeeh · Jan 14, 2016

blockend said:
The question is was she a dysfunctional person or a highly functioning artist, .

MattKing said:
I think the reference to "dysfunctional" was to her family.
.

I think the reference is to her as a person. No mention here about her family.

In any case, many families argue about members' estates, and this fact on it's own does not "dysfunctional" make.

blansky · Jan 14, 2016

Part of the attraction to Vivian Maier is certainly the work which is incredibly good.

But to me the backstory is so unbelievable and interesting it transcends and enhances the work and elevates to an ever greater level.

The human story. What could have been. The amazing eye and scope of her work. The obscurity of her story. The sadness of it.

As someone said, "artists" have often led sort of tortured lives and often very sad ones.

But on the other hand who said being rich and famous is the end all of being an artist. Perhaps to some its just the work, and not even the results of the work (the print) but the interaction of just doing the work.

Of course the more advanced mental illness (?) and dumpster diving in later life, lends a great deal of sadness to the tale, considering with a friend/guardian/sponsor she would have undoubtedly been rich.

But of course all this makes the story that much more riveting.

The financial wranglings now is just the hyenas fighting over the carcass and pretty sordid, but that the way life works.

MattKing · Jan 14, 2016

MattKing said:
Here is an interesting website, which appears to have some fascinating information about Vivian Maier: https://vivianmaierbio.wordpress.com/introduction/

Quoting from the "backstory" part of the blog:

"The priest arched his brow, the cemetery attendant eyed the ledger and the renowned genealogist digested the record, then verbalized what each was thinking, theyre as dysfunctional as Ive seen. He was referring to the family of Vivian Maier"

pdeeh said:
I think the reference is to her as a person. No mention here about her family.

In any case, many families argue about members' estates, and this fact on it's own does not "dysfunctional" make.

See above.

Patrick Robert James · Jan 14, 2016

There are a lot of assumptions made about what would have happened if Maier had been "discovered" during her life, but I don't think she would have been famous at all. All of the images that I have seen didn't break any new ground as far as photography goes. Yes they are nice images that bring forth a sense of nostalgia, but the photo world passed her by before she even started making pictures. The people that made pictures at the same time as her were well known for a reason. If you think Callahan for example (also working in Chicago at the time) wasn't a far superior artist I don't know what to tell you. The world is full of photographers that made images like hers, they just didn't have a weird story behind them to make people become interested in them, or a modern PR push.

I kind of find it amusing that there is so much legal wrangling surrounding her work. It is kind of like she is reaching out from the grave to prevent anyone from profiting from her life. The people that have her images keep talking about "getting them seen" but in reality they all see dollar signs. If they really were so concerned about getting them seen then they should give them to a museum which is where the work belongs.

I am not really all that interested in modern prints either. Judging her work by what someone else thinks it should be doesn't sit all that well with me. I am much more interested in prints that she made or had made during her life. I haven't seen any of those but I am guessing they are being held on to until they can be sold for huge bucks. Modern prints are a sort of revisionist history. Imagine if a no name painter that was a wacko contemporary of Picasso was discovered but the people who owned the paintings "reworked" them to make them look better. It is the same to me as the people who are reworking Maier's images. I have never seen any indication that Maier ever printed anything large for example, yet her images are being printed large because they are more valuable that way.

Bob Carnie · Jan 14, 2016

There are hundreds of examples of prints Vivian had made, they have been on exhibit now for years. Ron Slaterly who is seldom mentioned has a large stockpile of prints , made and approved by Vivian.

He has not shown much of this work, but maybe somebody form Chicago area can chime in who has seen the collection he owns.

StephenT · Jan 14, 2016

Interesting comments from all the posters. As I wrote on another forum earlier, I think the knowledge of the life of an artist enhances/enriches the appreciation of their work. Every life is a biography - some just have more pages and some make more captivating reading.

If the purpose of life is to discover one's gift, the work of life is to develop it, and the meaning of life is to give of your gift, then perhaps Vivian has fulfilled her purpose. That may be more than many could claim of their own lives.

Vivian has the look of one who is haunted. If not haunted, than hurt. From what I have learned of her history, that look is well justified. Little do people realize what damage can be done to others even unintentionally. We would all do well to consider the karmic implications of our thoughts and actions...........so it has been said.

Namaste, Vivian, and again, thank you for your gift.

DREW WILEY · Jan 14, 2016

I figure that my own day of fame will come when some bums are scrounging through a dumpster soon after my decease, and a half-empty
ketchup bottle will be dripping down over a stack of drymounted prints. They'll start chomping and quickly recognize that this tastes better
than what they find in the dumpster behind the Pizza joint down the street. Then these guys will become rich and famous pizza chain of their
own, with an innovative new crust recipe, and I will have found my place in history!

CropDusterMan · Jan 16, 2016

Man! I enjoyed this immensely! I viewed the film and really like Vivian's work, and it was so interesting to learn more
of the family and what made Vivian the woman she is.

Great work to those involved.

blockend · Jan 18, 2016

pdeeh said:
I think the reference is to her as a person. No mention here about her family.

In any case, many families argue about members' estates, and this fact on it's own does not "dysfunctional" make.

Yes, my inference is that Vivian was dysfunctional by conventional mores, qualified by the suggestion convention and genius are rarely acquainted. She lived in spare rooms to which other people were not admitted, and stored her work in a lock up for which she could no longer pay the rental. On the other hand her photography will live on, once the competing parties have had that to which they believe they're entitled.

DREW WILEY · Jan 18, 2016

Sounds like the stereotypes made about Atget that got passed around for a few decades, but ultimately proved completely untrue.

digital&film · Jan 19, 2016

Bob Carnie said:
Vivian exposed over 100,000 images on film - purchased on a Nanny's salary . She made amazing efforts to follow her passion. I wish I had known her as she demonstrates all that is good about photography, and we are better for her efforts.

Plus.. With two or three kids in tow, doing street photography.

MattKing · May 27, 2016

There appears to be a settlement of the legal issues:

https://www.ksl.com/?nid=151&sid=39...copyright-settlement-over-vivian-maier-photos

cowanw · May 27, 2016

"Coghlan ordered the settlement sealed from the public to protect ongoing negotiations with other owners of Maier's work."
You can never have too much secrecy!

Sirius Glass · May 27, 2016

That should start the wind down and cleaning up of the legal problems. It reads as though Maloof has won the case.

MattKing · May 27, 2016

Sirius Glass said:
That should start the wind down and cleaning up of the legal problems. It reads as though Maloof has won the case.

Or he has agreed to post security for a potential claim from the long missing brother or his progeny.

MattKing · May 27, 2016

cowanw said:
"Coghlan ordered the settlement sealed from the public to protect ongoing negotiations with other owners of Maier's work."
You can never have too much secrecy!

The settlement may include reference to evidence about the value of the copyrights, which would be appropriate to keep confidential.

In general, it has always seemed strange to me that the court's jurisdiction in Probate allows for public access to information about assets and liabilities that would have been confidential before a death, and will be confidential again once the assets are in the hands of the beneficiaries.

CMoore · May 31, 2016

I saw the Vivian Maier movie some time last year.
How could you help but be Interested/Fascinated.?
I liked many, many of her pictures, regardless of who printed them.
They are Good Photos and interesting to look at.

Doc W · May 31, 2016

How did the images last that long on undeveloped film?

Old-N-Feeble · May 31, 2016

Sirius Glass said:
Damn those dangling modifiers! My public school English teachers warned me about them!

It's okay to dangle your modifier in public but please, whatever do you, don't dangle your participle where I can see it!!

cliveh · May 31, 2016

Doc W said:
How did the images last that long on undeveloped film?

Why shouldn't they?

Doc W · May 31, 2016

cliveh said:
Why shouldn't they?

I have read that a latent image on film is not permanent. For example, lots of people say that Ilford Pan F should be developed soon after exposing.

But I don't really know. It was a question. You say they do last and lots of her negatives WERE developed quite successfully so I guess that there is no problem with waiting a long time between exposure and development. Good to know.

"About Vivian Maier"

pdeeh

Bob Carnie

MattKing

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Bob Carnie

pdeeh

blansky

MattKing

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Patrick Robert James

Bob Carnie

StephenT

DREW WILEY

CropDusterMan

blockend

DREW WILEY

digital&film

MattKing

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cowanw

Sirius Glass

MattKing

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MattKing

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CMoore

Doc W

Old-N-Feeble

cliveh

Doc W

"About Vivian Maier"

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