Vivian Maier photo exhibit opens June 3 in Villa Park

Thirty-five photographs will be featured starting next month in an educational photography exhibit, “Vivian Maier Uncrated” in Villa Park.

The exhibit will be featured from June 3 through July 30 at the Park Art Center, 9 E. Park Blvd. The exhibit will be open from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays.

Maier's photography talent was discovered a few years before her death in 2009 by a Chicagoan who had purchased her unpaid storage locker containing unprocessed film, a large amount of silver gelatin negatives, expensive old cameras and other personal items.

He was astonished to find she was an accomplished street photographer who took photos of working-class people and children in Chicago during the 1950s and 1960s.

Although self-taught, Maier experimented with portraits, reflection, mirrors, nostalgic, and humorous candid shots until she was able to capture the picture with the right focus the first time.

Born in New York City and raised in France, Maier had practiced her passion at an early age. She had the opportunity to venture on a world tour to take pictures before she settled down to become a reclusive nanny in the Chicago area. This gave her the security she needed and the freedom to pursue her hobby while going on adventures with the children.

“It is exciting to bring in this private collection of Vivian Maier photographs to Villa Park and DuPage County so the public can have the opportunity to view her mastery. Vivian's photography has been shown all around the world in major museums and galleries. In line with PAC's mission, this exhibit will foster appreciation of the arts through a full educational experience,” said Wendee Goles, president of Park Art Center.

Park Art Center will offer lectures, discussions and a showing of the film “The Vivian Maier Mystery.” In collaboration, the Villa Park Historical Museum has created a vintage camera exhibit that includes a German Rolleiflex camera, just as Vivian Maier used in her later work. The Villa Park Public Library will be highlighting its collection of photography books and a lobby display.

For details, call Wendee Goles at (630) 501-1455 or visit parkartcenter.wix.com/pac9.