We recently connected with Maggie Meiners and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Maggie, thanks for joining us today. What’s been the most meaningful project you’ve worked on?
All of the work I make has to come from within. Most often a specific project comes from a place of internal conflict. Specifically, a discomfort with something going on in the world around me and the narrative that surrounds it. In order to process the discomfort I deconstruct the narrative and reconstruct it in a way that empowers me. Most of my work is intended to help me understand the world and it’s systems better, particularly those that relate to class, gender, economy and race.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.
From an early age I have always loved crafts, color, glitter, textiles and fashion. While I never pursued any of it other than the odd project at summer camp, I was inspired to pick up a camera in my late 20’s and it’s been off to the races ever since. I found great solace in photographing the world around me and as I became more interested in narrative story telling I began to hone my craft through various workshops and photo critique groups. I never anticipated making a career out of photography, but found myself showing with groups of people I had met and selling the work. I made a ton of expensive mistakes from the get go that I laugh about today, but I chalk it off to still being less expensive than a formal education in photography, After about 5 years I began photographing in the studio as I found that I wanted to have more control of the narrative. About 15-17 years into photographing, I began to incorporate other mediums into my practice such as, textiles, collage, film making, and weaving. I’ve always categorized myself as a fine art photographer/artist and have done very little commercial work. My clients are mostly art consultants, galleries and art collectors. I would say I am most proud of exploring new mediums and ideas even if they scare the shit out of me.
For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?
Over time I have toyed with the idea of going into the corporate world and abandoning my creative practice all together, however, that thought lasts a minute as I create art to survive. I know it sounds dramatic, but it is true. No matter what other profession I may day dream about, it always comes back to me making art, writing or doing something creative. It’s as if I don’t have a choice. As mentioned before, my creative practice helps me make sense of the world, and therefore, is a very cathartic process for me. I tackle uncomfortable subjects such as body image, addiction, privilege and race, using most often using myself as the subject. The great reward comes, not in selling the work, though I do LOVE that, but rather the conversations around the work. I love when my viewers can relate to what am saying or when they are inspired to look at something from a different point of view as a result of seeing my work. The greatest reward of all is the connection between people that all creative practices create– even if the practice itself is solitary, the end result, if shared with others provides so many opportunities for the connection of the human spirit.
Is there mission driving your creative journey?
I would say that my main goal driving my creative journey is to survive (see above) and also to just have the space to lead my most authentic life. It sounds like a luxury but the truth is, like many, I am riddled with anxiety most of the time and having a creative practice allows me to do a soul filled examination of self, from a spiritual, mental and physical point of view. Although it sounds self-centered, the truth is that if I give myself the space to do a deep dive, I am able to resolve internal conflicts and thus release them into the world in some form of art or another. I am not emotionally attached to my work once it is complete. The emotion is in the process for me, so I am more than happy to release it into the world whether it is a screening, an exhibition or in a public or private collection. My creative journey is sometimes very frustrating but I am willing to persevere to get to the end result which is to release myself from whatever discomfort I am struggling with at the time.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.maggiemeiners.com/
- Instagram: @maggiemeinersprojects
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/maggie.meiners.1
- Twitter: @maggiemeiners
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCRZjwPFtKZJKuJnlXDRK25Q
Image Credits
Marcia Mahoney, EVELINA SNELL