Photographer Vivian Maier Discovered But Never Found

Inspiration, Featured

 

I was lucky enough to see the documentary Finding Vivian Maier during opening weekend at the IFC Center movie house in New York City. I also managed to attend a viewing when the co-director, John Maloof spoke. For those of you who know me, yes, I was front row, center for the showing and for his lecture. And, as you can tell below, I bought his book. What a wonderful story.

Who is Vivian Maier? She was a professional nanny in Chicago’s North Shore. From the 1950s until the 1990s she took well over 100,000 images, but didn’t show her street photography to a single soul. In 2007 her storage locker was sold off at auction after payments weren’t made. John Maloof, a Chicago-area history buff, bid on  and won a box of Vivian’s 100,000 negatives, movie footage, and 2,700 rolls of undeveloped rolls of film. He paid $380. John attempted to find Vivian, but to no avail. Finally her work has been discovered, shown in galleries, and this documentary is just out, all after her 2009 death.

What a story this is. Please scroll down and take a look at the movie trailer. You will want to run out and see this movie in a town near you.

Plus, check out the March 23, 2014 New York Times article.

Photo by NancyMoon

John Maloof, Director of the film “Finding Vivian Maier” and Nancy Moon with John’s book.

Some of my favorite images by Vivian Maier follow.

Theatrical Release of "Finding Vivian Maier"

Theatrical Release of “Finding Vivian Maier”. US Tour, click here.

 

Vivian Maier September 18, 1962

Vivian Maier, September 18, 1962.

 

VivianMaier

Vivian Maier, May 1958.

 

Undated, New York, NY

Vivian Maier, New York City.

 

Undated, Chicago, IL

Vivian Maier, Chicago.

 

By Vivian Maier www.vivianmaier.com

Vivian Maier, New York City.

 

May 5, 1955. New York, NY

Vivian Maier, May 5, 1955, New York City.

 

IFC Center, formerly the Waverly Theatre,  is an art house movie theater in Greenwich Village, New York City.

IFC Center, formerly the Waverly Theatre, is an art house movie theater in Greenwich Village, New York City.

 

I have enjoyed artsy.net, a Vivian Maier resource site. Check it out to see 80+ images of her works, exclusive articles about Vivian Maier, as well as her up-to-date exhibitions – it’s a unique Maier resource.

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