I got a chance to check out the Vivian Maier exhibition last week at the Stephen Bulger Gallery. I have been a huge fan of Vivian Maier since her work was discovered in 2007. Vivian was a relatively unknown street photographer until boxes of 20,000 b+w negatives, colour slides, undeveloped film and vintage prints were discovered in a storage locker and put up for auction in Chicago.
What has always impressed me most about Vivian was her eye for detail, light and composition, was completely natural and not influenced by any formal training. Her interest in the everyday streetscapes went against what was deemed art or appropriate subject material at the time. She was one of the great street photographer before street photography even existed; she was the Sartorialist before the Sartorialist. One could call her the Goffman of photography (if such comparisons are necessary) – stressing the importance of everyday face-to-face social interactions. Both working in the same era – unbeknownst to each other. (Yes, that is academic Christian slipping in).
There is currently a documentary film in production about the life of Vivian Maier. See trailer below.
You should all check out: Out of the Shadows – The Vivian Maier Exhibition runs from July 25 – September 14, 2013 at the Stephen Bulger Gallery, Toronto.
All photos courtesy of www.vivianmaier.com