VIVIAN MAIER

[CMoore]

Did anybody see one of her exhibits that has traveled the world.?
What did you think...................

 

[George Mann]

I have been aware of her work since it was first published. She was the best of her ilk.

 

[Pioneer]

She did some pretty amazing work.

Quite an amazing story, which is what initially grabbed everyone's attention. But IMHO her work is even better than her story.

I have several books with her photos and I review her work frequently. Very inspiring.

 

[CMoore]

I agree with both of you.
I think she is one of the finest photographers that has ever walked the Earth

 

[Tel]

I never saw her work in a gallery, though I did go to the book launch at Powerhouse in Brooklyn. Met John Maloof there. I especially like the way she shunned notoriety; probably some psychological issues there, but it lends a kind of purity to her work, I think. I have a lot of photography books but hers are the ones I open most often.

 

[MattKing]

It is too bad that Bob Carnie stopped participating here on Photrio.
He was the printer for some of those shows.

 

[CMoore]

It is too bad that Bob Carnie stopped participating here on Photrio.
He was the printer for some of those shows.

Oh Yeah, that's right.
Must have been a good feeling, or certainly very interesting anyway, to participate in that.
A very unique, once in a life time experience.

 

[Patrick Robert James]

It is too bad that Bob Carnie stopped participating here on Photrio.
He was the printer for some of those shows.

When did that happen? Jeesh. I miss everything.

 

[mooseontheloose]

I have several of her books but have yet to see any of her work in an exhibition. Agree with the others here - she was a fabulous photographer and very inspiring.

 

[Andrew O'Neill]

It is too bad that Bob Carnie stopped participating here on Photrio.
He was the printer for some of those shows.

He did?? Why do we always lose good people here?? Good thing I follow him on facebook!

 

[mooseontheloose]

He did?? Why do we always lose good people here?? Good thing I follow him on facebook!

That was news to me too, although, like you, I follow him on FB so I feel like he's never left.

Unfortunately I think there are too many GOFs here that suck the joy out of what used to be a really fun, dynamic community.

 

[mshchem]

I viewed her wonderful work at an exhibition at the Des Moines Art Center, a few years back. The prints were amazing. I believe these were printed by Hank's Photographic Service, NY.

Absolutely stunning work by VM and also who ever produced the prints.

 

[Andrew O'Neill]

That was news to me too, although, like you, I follow him on FB so I feel like he's never left.

Unfortunately I think there are too many GOFs here that suck the joy out of what used to be a really fun, dynamic community.

You said it! Kim Weston just joined recently. I hope he hangs around.

 

[Nitroplait]

Did anybody see one of her exhibits that has traveled the world.?
What did you think...................

I saw one of the travelling exhibits 5 years ago when it came to my city, and it was nice to see the enlargements.
However, I do think that the books are representing her work in an excellent manner and it doesn't have to be experienced in enlarged format to be fully appreciated (like an Ansel Adams print for example).
Her engaging photographs are extremely captivating and that doesn't really change from book page to wall - actually I honestly think I will rather experience her photographs in private rather than public - but that is just me.

 

[CMoore]

I viewed her wonderful work at an exhibition at the Des Moines Art Center, a few years back. The prints were amazing. I believe these were printed by Hank's Photographic Service, NY.

Absolutely stunning work by VM and also who ever produced the prints.

Thank You Both......for sharing your experience.

I saw one of the travelling exhibits 5 years ago when it came to my city, and it was nice to see the enlargements.
However, I do think that the books are representing her work in an excellent manner and it doesn't have to be experienced in enlarged format to be fully appreciated (like an Ansel Adams print for example).
Her engaging photographs are extremely captivating and that doesn't really change from book page to wall - actually I honestly think I will rather experience her photographs in private rather than public - but that is just me.

Thank You Both......for sharing your experience.

 

[macfred]

I saw parts of her work in April, 2015 in KuK - Monschau https://www.kuk-monschau.de/ - a great place for people interested in photography.
I was really impressed, bought the exhibition catalogue.

 

[AgX]

I got deterred by all that fuss, or how to call it, around her, when her name suddenly came up. But when all that is finally settled I shall take my time to explore here work beyond that what I saw illustrating articles on her.

By the way, Macfred made a good point in going to less fancy places for a show..

 

[TheFlyingCamera]

I never saw her work in a gallery, though I did go to the book launch at Powerhouse in Brooklyn. Met John Maloof there. I especially like the way she shunned notoriety; probably some psychological issues there, but it lends a kind of purity to her work, I think. I have a lot of photography books but hers are the ones I open most often.

If you watch the documentary film about her, I think it's called Finding Vivian Maier, it's not a probably that she had issues - she definitely had long-term mental health issues that went un-addressed. I don't think it was a question of consciously shunning notoriety; she was working only for herself, period end of story. She never intended to have an audience.

I've only seen her work in books - while I'm sure there is something special to seeing it printed, framed and hanging on the wall, there is something intimate about seeing it in book form that I think preserves the way she worked better than viewing it in a gallery does.

 

[MartinCrabtree]

I do believe the nature of her work must be viewed a little differently than that of a professional. Very disparate reasons for the images. I enjoy work like that as it has a certain...oh innocence to it. A self conscious edge sort of like someone doing charity w/o wanting recognition. Whatever the reason it's very different from most. I like that.

Oh I forgot. Nope only seen online.

 

[Alan Edward Klein]

If you watch the documentary film about her, I think it's called Finding Vivian Maier, it's not a probably that she had issues - she definitely had long-term mental health issues that went un-addressed. I don't think it was a question of consciously shunning notoriety; she was working only for herself, period end of story. She never intended to have an audience.

I've only seen her work in books - while I'm sure there is something special to seeing it printed, framed and hanging on the wall, there is something intimate about seeing it in book form that I think preserves the way she worked better than viewing it in a gallery does.

Van Gogh cut off his ear. Now he had problems!

 

[warden]

That was news to me too, although, like you, I follow him on FB so I feel like he's never left.

Unfortunately I think there are too many GOFs here that suck the joy out of what used to be a really fun, dynamic community.

Yes. I remember the day he left, and the reason, and I agree it's unfortunate.

As for VM, I adore her work. I have two or three of her books but haven't seen anything in a gallery. I think it says a lot about her approach to image making that after her passing, her work can be interpreted and printed by others and still shine. She was a once in a lifetime talent, independent of the incredible backstory of her discovery.

 

[MurrayMinchin]

Many of us photographers don't seek fame but still show our work locally from time to time. To never show anyone must be very rare.

As primarily a Nature photographer, I feel my connection to Nature is paramount to the way I see & work.

What intrigues me is how she could be so disconnected from people/relationships yet her photography of them displays she was very sensitive to their situations/emotions.

An enigma and one of the greats of photography.

 

[mshchem]

Just a quick note. Bob Carnie has youtube videos that are great.

 

[mooseontheloose]

If you watch the documentary film about her, I think it's called Finding Vivian Maier, it's not a probably that she had issues - she definitely had long-term mental health issues that went un-addressed. I don't think it was a question of consciously shunning notoriety; she was working only for herself, period end of story. She never intended to have an audience.
I've only seen her work in books - while I'm sure there is something special to seeing it printed, framed and hanging on the wall, there is something intimate about seeing it in book form that I think preserves the way she worked better than viewing it in a gallery does.

I own the documentary. I always find it interesting that Maloof cannot comprehend, at all, at several points in the doc, as to why in the world she wouldn't want to show her work to people. I think that reflects a little about the younger generation's obsession with fame, but also ignores the fact that there are thousands of people out there taking photos all the time, and some of them, probably, have produced great work as well that has never seen the light of day. I'm not producing any great work at all, but as a single, introverted, middle-aged woman who has never shown her work publicly (except for one student group show), I certainly identify with Maier quite a lot. I think too, if we consider her background, that she probably would have felt out of her element, or maybe even a fraud in the art world (I know I certainly do). There's a certain privilege to being able to do art, whatever it is, full-time, and generally has been the preserve of the upper classes (mainly men, mainly white), or people who were funded by them, whether directly or somewhat adjacently. She was a nanny working for these people - how many other examples do we have of artists in these "lower" positions in society obtaining fame and fortune?

 

[TheFlyingCamera]

Van Gogh cut off his ear. Now he had problems!

He also worked with lead-based paints.