More likely she was a cranky old woman who just wanted her stuff back and be left alone. There is no evidence that she was at all interested in fame and fortune, hard thing for some people to grapple with.
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OP
OP
She had no space for her stuff--that's why it was in a storage unit. She was old and infirm, had slipped and was hospitalized and most probably had ongoing mental issues. She forfeited on the storage fees, and even though she was or could have been in contact with some of her former employers and family, she never reached out for help to continue storing her possessions. Remember she was a hoarder--there was more in the storage unit than just some film and negatives.
Vivian Maier, Highland Park, 1966-1967 © The Estate of Vivian Maier, courtesy Collection John Maloof
You romantic. It reads like a Mills & Boon novel where the poor inept girl is saved by men. They could turn it into a musical " a spoon full of sugar helps the injustice go down "
I just prefer the truth with the least amount of bias, not to pick and choose the content that best helps sales.
There is a great BBC documentary presented by Alan Yentob. Unfortunately it's not being shown, if it does come on again you should watch it.
OP
OP
You are arbitrarily making judgements about a book you haven't read, claiming to be able to distinguish the truth with no proof other than referring to a documentary no one can see that may be just as biased as the other sources. And no-one saved the girl. She dies in the end, penniless.
I guess it is an interesting story. I saw the movie in one of my film classes so I have a vague idea of what happened. I don't think I want to get in the weeds about it. I do think she was an exceptional photographer and I enjoy looking at her photographs.
I was thinking about the guy going through all her photographs and deciding which ones to print and which ones to use in books. I would sort of like to see the rejects. I'd like to see a lot of great photographers' rejects. I like that Magnum book where they show the contact sheets from the rolls containing famous photographs. I look at those and say to myself that the great photographers took a lot of really unexceptional photographs so there is still hope for me. I'm pretty sure I have taken 10,000 photographs so I should start seeing some good ones showing up soon. That's why I keep taking photographs.
I was thinking about the guy going through all her photographs and deciding which ones to print and which ones to use in books. I would sort of like to see the rejects. I'd like to see a lot of great photographers' rejects. I like that Magnum book where they show the contact sheets from the rolls containing famous photographs. I look at those and say to myself that the great photographers took a lot of really unexceptional photographs so there is still hope for me. I'm pretty sure I have taken 10,000 photographs so I should start seeing some good ones showing up soon. That's why I keep taking photographs.
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Amen brother! Unfortunately I am still having a hard time finding any great photographs in MY contact sheets.
Good One.
In a similar vein..............maybe Joni Mitchell
When she hit that period of Court, then Hissing, Hejira, Don Juan, Mingus was a pretty big departure from her Singer/Song Writer stuff like Blue, Ladies Of, etc etc
Back to VM.
Not sure if "Amazing" is the right word, but...................Its amazing how much Angst, Controversy, Befuddlement and Anger she causes.
It is all over the map.
Everything from her being mediocre, to lousy, to genius............and the few people that bought her Negs/Photos and are making money from it and the admiration or hatred they receive.
Vivian really is a Singular person and scenario.
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No, just die. Preferably penniless and no will.
OP
OP
In the gallery world, there is a saying that the three Ds are the main reason collectible art comes up for sale: Death, Divorce and Debt.
None the less the documentary exists and will appear again.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b0366jd5
I read the links you provided and assume they were written by someone who read the book.
The BBC documentary portrayed her as a strong minded, very articulated, well read and travelled self asserted woman who had strong social views. Far more plausibly than the crazy Mary approach by those who seek profit. BBC has a bit more credibility than a retired business woman, first time a author, who is working on information provided by the trust.
Yes she died in the end, but not before her life's work ripped away from her. Imagine how devastating that would of been, like getting your ripped out and crushed before your eyes. In the end witnesses saw her spend hour sitting on a park bench staring over the lake. Chronic depression is probably the only mental illness that can be substantiated. Hoarding personal items isn't a debilitating mental illness, lots of people live meaningful lives amongst their clutter. She did amazingly to live to nearly eighty still keeping her stuff intact by herself. Takes a strong person to do that.
OP
OP
From the brief description of the film, I see nothing new or that contradicts what others have written about Ms Maier. I also do not know why you think Ms Marks only had information provided by the trust as it seems she writes about things that have not been in the other biographies to date. Why do you think you know what Ms Maier felt or thought about others acquiring her work? Once again, is there something you know that we don't? Or are you just projecting your thoughts and emotions on her?
Empathy, you should try it sometime.
Only a sociopath would think that it wouldn't be devastating to have your entire life's work, hundreds of thousands of photos, documents, film footage taken away from you and divided amongst speculators.
What you fear the most.....
Only a sociopath would think that it wouldn't be devastating to have your entire life's work, hundreds of thousands of photos, documents, film footage taken away from you and divided amongst speculators.
What you fear the most.....
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If she didn't value it, she would not have put it in storage. She was preserving it for --- who knows? No one asked her. She may have just had the idea that her photos - negatives, prints, film strips - were something that should last forever in an undefined way. Maybe she never had a thought that anyone else would see them.
Her photos tell you nothing about her.
But her photos are all that matters.
At present, the fact remains that it was the sale of her storage locker contents that made her known - namely the fact that the people buying the contents need to make money from it. It was nothing she did. If the contents had been shipped to some distant relation or former employer, her photos as likely as not would have been tossed in a landfill. After all, people routinely throw out their relatives photos when they deal with an estate. People normally don't even have the space for their own stuff.
If you think about it, most of the "great" photographers are known for a handful of great photos. The weight of a few great photos influences peoples' willingness to look through the many "good" photos they've also taken. Most "great" photographers are like one-hit wonders -- you bought their albums and you listened to but can't remember the names of the other songs - you really only like the one song but find you feel too shallow if you only know that one.
Her photos tell you nothing about her.
But her photos are all that matters.
At present, the fact remains that it was the sale of her storage locker contents that made her known - namely the fact that the people buying the contents need to make money from it. It was nothing she did. If the contents had been shipped to some distant relation or former employer, her photos as likely as not would have been tossed in a landfill. After all, people routinely throw out their relatives photos when they deal with an estate. People normally don't even have the space for their own stuff.
If you think about it, most of the "great" photographers are known for a handful of great photos. The weight of a few great photos influences peoples' willingness to look through the many "good" photos they've also taken. Most "great" photographers are like one-hit wonders -- you bought their albums and you listened to but can't remember the names of the other songs - you really only like the one song but find you feel too shallow if you only know that one.
OP
OP
Thanks for calling me a sociopath.
Ms Maier never tried to share her work, literally stowed it away where it would never have been seen. She could have destroyed it all like Bret Weston if she really did not want it taken from her. By not paying for her storage, she intentionally abandoned the film there and left it to someone else to decide what to do with it. As pointed out, it could have ended up in a landfill easier than having been printed and shown.
Lets face it, she's dead, her feelings can't be hurt. But the world is a little richer having seen at least some of her work.
Let's face it. At some point, none of our feelings can be hurt.
For me, her work does not hold my attention. I am not fascinated by her ideas, life style, life choices, or her photography. IMO, Her photographs do not indicate much, when you really get down to the essence of body of work. In my mind she is a version of Joe McCarthy, exposure for the sake of exposure. No pun intended.
In a lot of instances it is more the myths and legends that are created that keep people's attention. Most people are also attracted to her photos as well. That kind of makes her the perfect storm. It is likely she will be making money for someone for a very long time to come. It is for certain that her story definitely stirs people up.
That's what makes a horse race.
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No!, Did I? No, you?....did you take the test.
Actually have far more respect for your honesty than the sugar coated half truths we get from the profiteers.
Ann Marks
Ann Marks spent thirty years as a senior executive in large corporations and served as chief marketing officer of Dow Jones/The Wall Street Journal. After retirement, she put her research and analysis skills to use as an amateur genealogist and became inspired to unlock the mysterious life of photographer Vivian Maier. She has dedicated years to studying Maier’s archive of 140,000 images and is an internationally renowned resource on Vivian Maier’s life and work. Her research has been featured in major media outlets, including the Chicago Tribune, The New York Times, and the Associated Press. Marks lives in Manhattan with her husband and three children.
Tell me how do you give credibility with someone doing a bio with those credentials? who would publish it? Somebody has paid for publishing, who?
With those credentials she will sure be good at the sugar coating.
There's an intimacy in her photos that's helped created by the waist-level cameras she used.
Deleted member 88956
If Mr. Maloof wanted to make the world richer, he would have donated the negatives to a national archive of sorts, whichever would have accepted them, instead of mouthing around how great HE is by making all the money he can for sake of "making the world richer". Nobody can confirm at least a good chunk of whatever has been said about Maier, yet all of it said to sell and profit from, and for no other reason.
But you are correct, she is dead ... and unable to speak up.
As for Ms. Marks, I see no connection in her bio to credibility I would consider worthy of awe without fear.
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MattKing
Moderator
Ms. Marks sounds like someone who is fascinated by Vivian Maier, and would have the contacts and resources to be able to put together an informative and useful book.
Whether she has actually done so, is to be determined.
After John Maloof's attempts to skirt responsibility in this matter, I welcome every contribution.
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