Sunbathing

After yesterday's downpours it was good to have a return of the sun today.

It was also good to finally get to see 'Finding Vivian Maier' at FACT. I've been longing to see the film ever since I knew of its existence, having originally been introduced to Maier's incredible photographic talent through Kendall's journal, then seen the BBC documentary about her and been given a book of her photos by Spokes for Christmas.

I've been following blippers' discussion of the film with some interest, particularly the ways in which it presents Maier, the artist and the person, and the way in which her legacy has been curated and presented for public consumption.

I discussed all these points with Spokes and her mum over a late lunch at MelloMello (which is where I caught this fellow diner, apparently as ecstatic about the light as I was!) and, in true fence-sitting fashion, we all agreed that there was something to be said for various points of view but that the most important thing is that Maier is now being recognised for her phenomenal talent and that her photographs are jaw-droppingly good.

I doubt she'd have welcomed the intrusion into other areas of her life but many are the artists who've created great bodies of work whilst dealing as best they could with difficult circumstances and sometimes falling short. And there are many who have shied away from the more prurient interest that fame attracts or who have sought to hide away, obfuscate, play games with their public, reinvent themselves or put people off the scent. I kept thinking of people like JD Salinger, Harper Lee and Bob Dylan who've all done it one way or another or of people like Vincent Van Gogh whose genius was only discovered and recognised after they were gone. Vivian Maier is a worthy addition to the list!

Such a thought-provoking film! Well worth seeing.