DP/30: Finding Vivian Maier with John Maloof & Charlie Siskel 

During the Covid lockdown, I helped my neighbour doing some renovations. He showed me a large metal chest which he said he had since the early 1970’s. In the box were two cameras, over 100 rolls of film, two shoe boxes of letters, some movie reels and maybe 1000 photographs. Old newspapers too. He said they were Vivian Maier’s. I forgot about it until I saw a TV documentary about her life. She is an amazing woman. 👏👏👏👏

John, thanks for bringing this awesome artist's work to light for us, and not taking a completes stranger's negatives to a dumpster instead. You had the option, and did the right thing. :-)

All credit to John Maloof for his heroic recovery and professional curation. He deserves all the rewards. I would love to see the outtakes. I am surprised that he paid $400 for a just a box of random photographs. "Telling in an artful way" is key.

I find it so amazing that you developed the film. Most people wouldn’t have done that

I find this to be one of the most captivating documentaries ever. Vivian's work is brilliant...beautiful, interesting, unusual, and disturbing all in one. John is also amazing in his determination. I am so curious, though....how is such a young person with no steady employment financially capable of all of this? After his museum approaches failed, how was he able to hook up with well-known photographers for their opinions? It's not easy, by any means for an artist to get their foot in the door, let alone be financially capable of pulling off a complete gallery exhibition. Framing, printing, matting all of that work on his own? How?

Thanks for your efforts to bring her photos to light... Others might not have bothered, or simply not had the resources.

Thanks, both of you, for your fantastic, inspiring film on VM! Inspiring, uplifting, a piece of art in itself.

John Maloof, I commend you for several reasons. As an artist myself, I truly believe that Vivian maybe didn't know how to get her work seen on the level it deserved or that maybe she didn't know if people would think her work was "odd" as they did she. Nothing in me believes that anyone but you, deserves credit for the world being given this gift and that is the mysterious and intriguing life and story and work of Vivian. I believe SHE is eternally grateful to you for preserving what she obviously tried to preserve to her ability....for going out to bat like you have...I thinks he would have bashfully been full of gratitude. And about those cameras you collect......you have inspired me to want a Rollflex box camera and I almost fell over when I saw what they go for. Got any workable cheaperish ones? LOL God I need one so bad......Many blessings

Vivian said. " If you want to take care of someone, take care of me." Obviously that family didn't adopt her. It's hard to say Vivian suffered during her life or not. She had had tough experience, but she peacefully passed when she was 83. The most important thing is, she's got you to take care of her, and her works. I'd say it's both yours, the society's, and Vivian's fortune. Thank you John and your team.

Amazing! Great work John .. I can't imagine who could handle vivian story better!!

thank you for sharing the work of v m, john and charlie

Very interesting interview. I have to say that its sad that Vivian Maier didnt get to enjoy the fruits of her work which in my opinion as a photographer is very good. This story is very similar to what happened to the French photographer Eugene Atget who's work was discovered after his death in Paris in 1927 by Berenice Abbott.

Really enjoyed the movie. How is showing her photos hurting her after her death? The negatives would have been lost forever if not for Maloof.

Great Vivian Maier!

Awesome job great thank youuuuu

It's fortunate that Vivian was a 'hoarder' of sorts, as that's what enabled John to find out so much about her.

Personally, Ive always liked the way Mr Maloof & Co. brought out the intrigue & mystery that defines V. Maier, and choose to believe they were/ are coming from totally artistic expression and plave...

When I hear stories like this the subject of why would she do this in obscurity? Sometimes seeking fame or fortune can ruin the art.

Everything happens for a reason.

What I find deeply sad is that Vivian obviously could no longer afford to pay for the storage of her private life - two days after the auction she died. I also think that maybe so many photos were not developed due to her financial circumstances. It's costly to develop film. She had nothing. I sob for her life, her early suffering, for those who pick apart such a private life.

HERO👍

Here come the lawyers

She cooked cow tongue! That's barbacoa which is really good!

If only people paid for storage spaces abandoned due to poverty of the owner.

You can see the full Documnetary on Facebook. :-)

Seems like her camera was her constant companion, she was never alone, sort of like having a "man on her arm," the camera gave her license to go where singular women dare tread. I think the camera as passport was more important to her than the "postcards as proof of participation." She participated in life as a single woman! Back in the day....

The subject of it (Vivian) is great but the format that they did it, the camera focused on this two guys constantly speaking makes it such a tiring thing to watch that I didnt make it to the end, so sorry.

How do I see this film?

Doesn't it seem as though Charlie always try to make a pedestal for John and Vivian (a bit too much)?

why have MOMA and Tate Modern hired incompetents?

DP/30: Finding Vivian Maier with John Maloof & Charlie Siskel Gold Diggers! IMHO #photography #streetphotography #scammers

the documentary itself would have been much better without having John Maloof in front of the camera so often.

john maloof = knob

Personally its sad these guys are making both a name for themselves as well as capitalizing on her efforts as well as profiting from it.... Now these guys are strutting like peacocks off of someone else's hard work. I personally think she would have not liked this as she was pretty private...