The Enigmatic Vivian Maier

Street photographer; sometimes nanny, Vivian Maier is still not a house-hold name. She remains largely, someone reclusive and unknown to this day. This is changing. Describing herself as a spy and leading a life of secrecy, often entered into shadowy places of full sunlight, discovering and uncovering many stories of the unseen or at least the unnoticed with her camera.  

Maier was brilliant in her efforts, the truest and purest artist in the noblest sense. She remained largely among the unknown and unsung. Maier’s work; just short of genius or surpassing genius depending on the viewer’s interpretation is certainly among the most alluring creators the world of photography is yet to know. The Maier self-portraits are in a league with Cindy Sherman’s; her cunning portraits of children surely equaling those of Sally Mann. And we are still in the process of her discovery.

It was real estate agent John Maloof that discovered the incredible talent and body of work by the completely unknown artist. His lucky, chancy finding happened while Maloof; researching for a book, purchased the contents of an old storage locker. This would prove to be a true treasure for Maloof. Prints, negatives and rolls of undeveloped film were included among the unsorted materials. Maier; the undocumented, extraordinary talent was suddenly found! Maloof began a personal investigation into the maker of this sensational photographic archive. Others have since joined Maloof in his quest to uncover the mystery of the nanny/photographer. Michael Williams and Pamela Bannos too, are working, investigating, and compiling their research on Maier as they put together books and films on the life and works of Vivian Maier. A clearer picture of Maier is coming together from the many individual efforts.

While Maier worked as a nanny she was considered something of a “Mary Poppins” to her children.  They adored her and loved the numerous outings and adventures around New York and Chicago. Vivian always carried her camera and amassed something better than 100,000 images; many that she never printed or even developed. Her camera of choice was a Rolleiflex twin lens reflex that evidence shows she began to use after seeing a documentary on great French Photographers of the early 20^th Century at MoMA. 

Maier recorded her imagery with precision, grace and care. Her photographs are incredibly and generously democratic. Men, women, children, every national origin and station of life depicted honestly with skill, nuance and subtle beauty. For reasons all her own Maier never sought fame or to be paid as a professional. She possesses all the qualities of the great and professional as the work itself most eloquently speaks. Her anonymity remained intact throughout her life. There are creative comparisons to be made to the painter Vincent Van Gogh in their continued devotion to life, art and the expressions of the human spirit. Vincent however did seek and want to support himself financially at least to some degree as is evident in his letters to his brother, Theo. Nothing at this point has surfaced on Maier to suggest she sought either wealth or fame. We are honestly just beginning to write the book of Vivian Maier and may find something to the contrary. Her life remains firmly open ended and without any true definition. When all is said it is really about the work and the process. Maier loved photography, the doing of the thing and her subjects as the sheer volume and quality of her results illustrate.    

Life, death, legacy and purpose were things considered by Maier.  At one point Vivian Maier reflected on an audio tape in this way:

  "Well I suppose nothing is meant to last forever. We have to make room for other people. It’s a wheel; you get on, you have to go in the end and then somebody has the same opportunity to go on to the end…and so on and somebody else takes their place.” 

                                                                                                         Vivian Maier

Miss Maier; as is said she liked to be addressed, made a mark on her time and her world. This literally as she saw, experienced and recorded it. She walked the streets of the city along with her children in tow, in search of mystery, adventure and treasures. What was once their secret is now ours to share, to study, to enjoy, proclaiming with raucous exuberance and “right out loud!”  

San Jacinto

 

 

8,500 ft. plus above the Palm Springs desert floor the San Jacinto Mountain Range rises. A glass tram take visitors almost straight up beginning a spectacular journey into nature and the splendor of creation. I was able to spend a cool morning romping, climbing and photographing a portion of this spectacular California State Park.

 

 

 

 

People from all over the world and across the country were sharing this miracle of nature. The lighting that morning was just about perfect and the air crisp.

 

 

There were boulders balanced on boulders and fallen trees that appeared to be prehistoric gargantuan beasts. Many of these things seemed as if placed by some gigantic hand or set designer.

 

 

The morning found experienced climbers, novices and families enjoying the snow on the higher peaks. Some of the most amazing views to see anywhere on the planet surrounded we journeymen travelers through time.

 

 

There was a sense of accomplishment in just climb, sitting and looking out at a thing larger and greater than one person could ever be. These sensations accompanied with a feeling of belonging and being part of something tremendous, grand and timeless.

 

 

San Jacinto is exhilarating, inspirational and addictive in the most positive way. These are photographs from my “Excellent Adventure.” They give a hint of the greatness of these moments.

YIN YANG the Gallery 446 Exhibition

 

 

 

 

Palm Springs is a somewhat mythical and unusual place in the Southern California Desert. Marilyn Monroe is said to have been discovered there. Bob Hope’s most interesting and Modern home is there and the lifestyle is luxurious and very “Rich.” This lovely place; this location of numerous resorts; golf courses and satellite of Hollywood is equal to it’s legend and is truly remarkable.  

Palm Springs with no doubt has a lot to offer. I was there for the opening of the “Yin Yang” exhibition at Gallery 446, to visit the unique Palm Springs Art Museum, the surrounding mountains and to meet Shari Belafonte. It was to be an adventure for the ages and a joy to behold.

Palm Springs with no doubt has a lot to offer. I was there for the opening of the “Yin Yang” exhibition at Gallery 446, to visit the unique Palm Springs Art Museum, the surrounding mountains and to meet Shari Belafonte. It was to be an adventure for the ages and a joy to behold.

 

 

 

 I have admired Shari Belafonte’s beauty and achievements for many years. The many magazine covers she has graced, her television work, music and activism are part of her radiant allure. Before this event I wasn’t aware of her skills as a photographer. She’s amazing at that too. Did I mention she rounds it all out with cartoon voice overs? She couldn’t be more amazing. “Master Card…fill my flat,” was for me one of the greatest lines ever delivered. That was Shari too. Meeting Shari was worth a trip and it is really her honesty and grace that shines through in her life and work. Shari’s a winner that gives much.

 

 

 

 

 

Along with Shiri I met many, many other interesting and talented people. The exhibiting artist’s Shaktima Brien, Angela Romeo and Audrey Tommassini were especially welcoming. Audrey’s mother Shelly Mitchell was incredible; beautiful, talented and blessed with an uncommon sensitivity. She is a teacher of method acting and a phenomenal actress in her own right. Some of the others I bumped into were Jim Ciskowski, Denise Hoy (she emailed me photos of the event) and “Bond Girl” Trina Parks. This was special!

 

 

 

 

The Yin Yang Exhibition went beyond frill and fluff. It was a fund raiser as well. The Desert Aids Project and 100 Women would receive all the proceeds from the sales of the art work. They provide services for women and children affected by HIV/AIDS; it is a worthy cause. The curator of Yin Yang Laurie Weitz and gallery director Dimitri Halkidis are to be noted and commended.

 

 

It is really people that make anything worthwhile and doing. All those that I met were wonderful. The residents of Palm Springs and all in attendance were equally virtuous, dedicated and fun to be with. They made the opening of Yin Yang a true pleasure; a tremendous opportunity and contributed to an event to remember, an evening to treasure, a very good time.

 

 

 

 

 

Annie Leibovitz: The Wizard of OZ Portfolio

John Currin dressed in a silver suit, raised axe in hand stands over a startled Keira Knightly.  White evening gown and tiara adorned Kara Walker backed by the Penn State Marching Band face a humbled Keira Knightly. A horrified, fearful Keira Knightly is whisked away by a winged, furry Jeff Koons as another winged furry Jeff Koons follows. “The Lion in Winter” Jasper Johns perches, stately above an awed Keira Knightly. The Annie Leibovitz treatment of the L. Frank Baum novel turned film has never been so in vogue as when it appeared in the December 2005 issue of “Vogue.” This portfolio rocked the world and especially the “Art World.” Leibovitz is famous for her photo spreads and celebrity portraits but it is rare to almost non-existent for “A-List” artistic luminaries to be featured as stars in such a mass media venue. All the stops were pulled out for this one as Annie; such a prolific and passionate professional scores big.  She rarely misses. She is on target and in her best form with her OZ fantasy photographs.

Leibovitz began he career in the early Seventies. Rolling Stone magazine was her first home. Her photos chronicled the celebrities and events of our times like no other. She is among the select few to be both an artistic and commercial success. Her timely portrait of John Lennon and Yoko Ono, The nude/ pregnant Demi Moore, the milk bath Whoopi Goldberg and the “Blue” Blues Brothers are classics. Leibovitz always goes to the next level and even a little farther with her works that are often theatrical vignettes. She is able to get to the hearts of her subjects and they reveal much of themselves to Annie as with no other photographer. Leibovitz’s work graced and defined “The Cover of the Rolling Stone” for years. She was to move on to Vanity Fair, Vogue, the Disney Corporation and other clients. Her body of work is unmatched or surpassed. Leibovitz is embraced by generations and she continues to work and grow touching all forms of photography with her unique vision.

Her massive book; “Annie Leibovitz: A Photographer’s Life 1990-2005” is a major success for her. It is the best selling photography book of all time. It features both professional and personal works. Her relationship with Susan Sontag is a main feature of the book and much is reveled about Annie in the pictures and minimal amount of text. She draws no distinction between her life and vocation. I was able to see her exhibition following the release of her book at the Corcoran in Washington DC. As expected it was a treasure and a great joy. 

The Wizard of OZ portfolio; complete and impressive as a standalone piece is in many ways a small sample of this woman’s greatness.  There is much more to her body of work that is still growing. Leibovitz continually amazes as she informs and entertains. Her captured moments are precise and decisive. Everything a world class talent should be; is she.