DOUBTS & CERTAINTIES

"If a man will begin with certainties, 

he shall end in doubts;

but if he will be content to begin with doubts, 

he shall end in certainties."

-Francis Bacon

HELLO VIVIAN MAIER

VIVIAN MAIER (1926-2009):

A Renaissance In The Art of Street Photography 

Self Portrait - Vivian Maier 

Self Portrait - Vivian Maier 

Self Portrait - Vivian Maier 

Self Portrait - Vivian Maier 

Self Portrait - Vivian Maier 

If you are a fan of photography and are not yet familiar with the fascinating and mysterious story of Ms Vivian Maier's photographs, you owe it to yourself to click on a link or two at the bottom of this post. Who is Vivian Maier?  I'll try my best to give a quick snapshot of what is quickly becoming the Vivian Maier legend.  In short, Vivian was never a professional photographer.  Rather, she spent most of her adult life as a Chicago nanny.  Taking care of others' children may have been her occupation but her true life's calling was hidden from world view until shortly after her death. Vivian Maier enjoyed capturing the comings and goings of strangers on the streets of mid-century Chicago as well as the cities far and wide that she traveled to on Holiday.  Street photography.  Camera in tow, she captivates us with her ability to compose and expose - the likes of which many feel rival anything produced by trained masters of street photography.   Her eye adeptly attuned to capturing human emotions, clever vignettes and the various oddities of urban humanity. It's believed she never really shared her images with anyone.  Never married?  No children of her own?  No close friendships to speak of?  So far, she remains a bit of a mystery.  Passionate about photography to the end, she was also an intensely private person.  Photography, as it seems, was an escape for her.  So, as the story goes, fate had plans for the wealth of imagery Ms Vivian had amassed with her various cameras, most notably a Rolleiflex TLR and later a Leica Rangefinder.  In the twilight of her long life and living alone in Chicago, she took a terrible fall one wintery afternoon.  She lived out the remains of her days in a nursing home.  As a result, the contents of a storage unit belonging to Vivian Maier fell into collection for nonpayment - destined for the auction block.   Enter John Maloof, Ron Slatterly, & Jeff Goldstein - current champions of Ms Vivian's work, all of whom stumbled upon bits of her life and imagery from the above mentioned Chicago auction.  Each captivated by the quality and breadth of her photos.  Each man choosing to share their discoveries with the world so that we too can come to appreciate her artistic eye.  In the end, all of this excitement also begs the question: What do you suppose Ms Vivian would have made of all this publicity?  This past spring I attended a viewing of Vivian's works at the Chicago Cultural Center - curated from Mr John Maloof's collection.  I too was captivated, like the many others in attendance.  Her images are now beginning to appear in galleries around the globe, encouraging others to examine for themselves a new found celebrity in the world of Street Photography: Vivian Maier.  All my best - Cate.

NEED MORE OF VIVIAN?

Valuable Vivian Maier Links To Share & Enjoy:

Vivian Maier Website - John Maloof Collection

Vivian Maier Prints Inc. - The Jeffrey Goldstein Collection

Vivian Maier - The Ron Slattery Collection

Vivian Maier Blog - John Maloof Collection

Vivian Maier Newsletter Subscription - John Maloof Collection

Wikipedia - Vivian Maier
Wikipedia - Famous Street Photographers

YOU ARE YOUR OWN POET

You will not find poetry anywhere unless you bring some of it with you.  
-Joseph Joubert

Added some fresh tunes to the Days of Cate blog radio.   Enjoy.  
-Cate

31, a photo by Days of Cate on Flickr.

SLEEPING AT LAST

I have to say, blogging has turned out to be a wonderful experience for me.  It took me quite a bit of time to finally take the plunge.  Months?  No, maybe more like years.  Sigh.  Was it because I thought it would be technically difficult?  Did I fear that I would have nothing to say?  Or that what I did say would be of no use to anyone?  Yes, all of the above.

I have to admit, I'm notoriously private.  My closest friends might say as much of me too.  As it turns out though, blogging has given me an artistic home base.  An opportunity to be editor and curator of my own creativity.  A fertile source for tapping into other souls out there that share similar interests.  A place to record bits and pieces of me, if for no other reason then to be a source of future self-reflection.  I'm only just beginning.  This July celebrating my 5th month online and glad to be here.

As a special treat to the growing number of guests I've had check out Days of Cate this summer, I thought it would be lovely to share what I think to be some beautiful music.  The perfect paring for summertime drives, creating art, getting lost in thought, or maybe even blogging!


The band Sleeping At Last - have you discovered them yet?  Their lyrics - poetic.  Their melodies - enchanting.   Scroll to the bottom of my blog and you will find a playlist.   So many beauties - I had a difficult time choosing which to feature here.

"Dive in, with your eyes closed, for the life you were born to claim." -Watermark song by Sleeping At Last


Oh, and for the record, a few of my favorite Sleeping At Last tracks (at least for this moment because I do love them all!):  SNOW, EMPHASIS, DEAR TRUE LOVE.  Until we meet again.  ~Cate 

SLEEPING AT LAST WEBSITE