Today we’d like to introduce you to Maggie Meiners.
Every artist has a unique story. Can you briefly walk us through yours?
I came into art a little later in life with no formal background other than a Photo I class. It’s no surprise, however, that I fell into the visual arts, as I am very hard of hearing and rely heavily on my eyes to make sense of the world. Initially I pursued photography after being inspired by a photo retrospective at the V & A back in 1999. I was so moved by the images, I decided I wanted to create my own. I retired from teaching and begin actively pursuing photography. Currently, I identify as an artist using photo-based images, as my practice has evolved and I am always exploring new methods and materials.
Please tell us about your art.
My academic background is in Cultural Anthropology and while that career never materialized, my art relies heavily on methods of deconstructing various elements of American culture and reconstructing it in a way that makes sense to me and my personal experiences. I work very much from intuition. Initially photography was a very meditative experience and a way for me to relate to the world without full engaging. Since, I have found that my personal narrative has become less about observations outside of me and more about experiences that relate directly to me. As a result, I reconstruct my experiences and observations through various methods including, traditional photography, collage, re-appropriation, and I am currently working on a short film. My most recent body of work, Revisiting Rockwell, has been well received and is also the most political of the work I have done thus far. It took 8 years to complete and many of the images meanings have expanded over the years. In short, I deconstruct American culture, artifacts, and iconography and reconstruct it based on my personal experiences and observations. I purposely leave my messages ambiguous so that the viewers may relate to them in their own way. I really strive to make my art accessible and provide an opportunity for connection and conversation.
As an artist, how do you define success and what quality or characteristic do you feel is essential to success as an artist?
As an artist, I think success can be defined very fluidly. If my work fosters conversation and connection, I consider it successful. Likewise, if people are inspired by the work I have also accomplished a goal. Of course, it is always nice to sell prints on a frequent basis and share the work to new audiences through varied exhibition venues as well.
However, in order for me to determine whether a piece of work or collection of work is successful, I have to first begin with the concept and execute it to my satisfaction. That requires a tremendous amount of discipline, resilience, failure and risk (both financially and emotionally). Once the work is complete, I have to determine what the best path may be for the work and it is not always the financial route.
How or where can people see your work? How can people support your work?
Currently I have an exhibition, Revisiting Rockwell, up at the McLean Art Center in Bloomington, IL. The work will be traveling to the Mansfield Art Center in Mansfield, OH. in the Fall and the exhibition will be up there through October 28.
My work can be purchased through Anne Loucks Gallery, Glencoe, IL. Additionally, more work can be viewed on my website, www.maggiemeiners.com or Instagram page @maggiemeinersprojects.
Contact Info:
- Address: Studio: Platform
904 Sherman Evanston - Website: www.maggiemeiners.com
- Email: maggie@maggiemeiners.com
- Instagram: @maggiemeinersprojects
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Maggie-Meiners-1004766159587909/
- Twitter: @maggiemeiners
Image Credit:
Maggie Meiners
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