We were lucky to catch up with Meryl Meisler recently and have shared our conversation below.
Meryl, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. We’d love to hear about the things you feel your parents did right and how those things have impacted your career and life.
My parents, Jack and Sunny (Schulman) Meisler, loved my brothers Ken, Mitchell, and me unconditionally. Mom said, “Even though our marriage broke up, there’s something we did right- we’ve got three smart, wonderful, and beautiful kids.” They bragged about their children to everyone. Even if we got into a bit of trouble or mischief, like the first and only time I shopped lifted (and got caught), they were firm and disappointed, but there was never a fear of rejection. I never stole again. When I came out as a Lesbian, there was honest disappointment and questioning but never a fear of rejection. Their love was unconditional.
They taught us by example to be honest, hardworking, proud Jews and “stick together” as family and friends. Sunny and Jack co-founded “The Mystery Club.” About a dozen couples would take turns planning a mystery night out every month for nearly two decades. The adventures included trips to a nudist colony, haunted house, séances, making a vinyl recording of “Strangers in The Night,” fencing lessons, and going to the Gay Continental Baths to see a cabaret performer. In the mornings after Mystery Nights, Mom and Dad would laugh hysterically. We couldn’t wait to hear their stories. Imagine what they didn’t tell us. The Mystery Club taught us to be open-minded to different kinds of people, new experiences, and the importance of pursuing joy and laughter.
When I took my first photography class in 1973, my parents, our family, and the Mystery Club friends were among my “first subjects.” Fifty years later, these early vintage photographs are the subject of my work in the current exhibition “American Families.” at Polka Galerie in Paris.
Meryl, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
I am an artist whose focus is photography.
I was born in 1951 in the Bronx and grew up on Long Island, New York. During my freshman year of college, I took an Art for Non-Art Majors class. The professor asked, “Have you ever thought about becoming an Art Major?” My heart literally pounded. I called my parents to ask their permission. As long as you get a teaching degree, you can always make a living.”
My journey as a photographer was inspired by the works of Diane Arbus, Jacques Henri Lartigue, and my dad’s family photographs. In 1975, I made the bold move to NYC and began my career as a freelance illustrator. During this time, I immersed myself in the vibrant New York Disco scene, capturing its essence through my lens. My dedication and talent were recognized in 1978 when I became a CETA Artist grant recipient, creating a portfolio of photographs that explored Jewish Identity for the American Jewish Congress. This was just the beginning of my career, which included three decades as a NYC Public School art teacher.
After retiring from teaching in 2010, I began releasing large bodies of unseen photographs. My first monograph, “A Tale of Two Cities: Disco Era Bushwick” (Bizarre 2014), juxtaposes the zenith of disco photos with images of burned-out Bushwick, Brooklyn, in the 1980s. The second book, Purgatory & Paradise SASSY ’70s Suburbia & The City (Bizarre, 2015), contrasts intimate images of home life on Long Island alongside NYC street and nightlife. The latest, “New York PARADISE LOST Bushwick Era Disco” (Parallel Pictures Press 2021), makes the first books seem like fairytales. I’ve returned to my analog roots in the darkroom, making gelatin silver prints of contemporary images and never-seen photos from the archive. My work has won numerous awards and has been exhibited worldwide. My wife Patricia O’Brien and I live and work in Woodstock and NYC, New York.
I am grateful to live a life of creative joy and purpose.
How did you build your audience on social media?
Social media is an essential tool of creative promotion- getting your work “out there.” Looking to those who have achieved significant success in their careers through the power of social media can be a great source of inspiration. Most people are generous in sharing information if you ask them. For instance, Gulnara Lyabib Samoilova, the founder of Women Street Photographers, has built a massive social media presence. Her insights, shared in a brief workshop, were invaluable. She emphasized the importance of posting once a day, providing relevant descriptions, asking open-ended questions, and engaging with comments, even if it’s just a simple ‘thank you. ‘
Remember, in the world of creative promotion, ‘all press is good press’. While it may be tempting to procrastinate on opportunities like this, they are a necessary part of the business. So, don’t hesitate to say yes to opportunities to write, talk, present, and exhibit your work. Engage in networking both in person and online. Craft visually appealing and informative mass emails about your latest projects or upcoming events, and share them on your social media platforms. I’ve sold work, received press and opportunities to exhibit through social media, and gotten back in touch with people I graduated High School with and other parts of my life.
Grow your social media presence without having it take over your time to create and take care of your health and well-being. Take a break when you need it. Everything is good in moderation.
We’d love to hear your thoughts on NFTs. (Note: this is for education/entertainment purposes only, readers should not construe this as advice)
My preference is to exhibit and sell physical gelatin-silver prints. Quantum Art, an NFT platform, was founded in 2021 by Justin Aversano, a generous and creative artist friend. Kris Graves and Roula Seikaly, respected photography curators, joined the Quantum Art team and invited me to do a curated NFT drop. My gallery, CLAMP, approved the collaboration. “QuirkyVision 45RPM,” a 45-piece photography collection of my 1970s nightlife photos, dropped on November 3rd, 2022, at 8 a.m. PST and sold out in under an hour. Quantum Art is currently on pause. If Quantum Art or another well-curated platform focusing on photography invited me, I would do another NFT drop if my gallery CLAMP (and Polka in French-speaking countries) were in approval.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.merylmeisler.com/
- Instagram: @merylmeisler
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/merylmeisler
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/meryl-meisler-6495a813/
Image Credits
First photo (color portrait of Meryl) by Kevin Frest All of the photos by Meryl Meisler