artPark: 13 Days of Photography

This is Part 4 of 13. In this series, each post will focus on one of the artists being shown during Migration: A Gallery’s Photography Invitational, We All Live in Bordertowns. The exhibit is currently open and runs through the end of December.

What do you get when you toss a handful of Daguerreotypes, a couple of Magrittes and a pinch of Vaudeville into a Photoshop blender and let it rip? The quirky, exquisite and (sometimes) whimsical work of Florida artist Maggie Taylor.

There are those moments in the art business when you come across a body of work that truly sweeps you off your feet. It has happened to me a few times in museums, and Laura has been brought to tears a couple of times (most recently at a gallery in Santa Fe, NM). When we were introduced to the photography of Maggie Taylor, we were both literally taken aback. Maggie struck a chord in our mind’s eye by blending the earthiness of old photographs with the mysticism of her dream-like scenes.

Yes, it is photography, but, as usual, we are drawn to its alternative approach to the medium. Maggie collects late 19^th century and early 20^th century photos. She also scans various objects or snaps pictures with her point and click digital camera that she keeps set on automatic. She then spends painstaking hours piecing together images and layering them to create her mini staged dramas.

"It’s not the same thought process as photography, that’s for sure," Maggie says. "You start with nothing instead of going into the real world and reacting to things." Maggie also claims she does not start with an idea ahead of time. Rather, she trusts the creative process – even though it can take months to complete. Time is initially spent adding layers upon layers building up an image. Then, elements are stripped away bringing forth the final image and ultimately the story. On average, Maggie makes only about 12 images per year.

Initial impressions of Maggie’s work often include whimsy, creepy, drama and fascination. The images can get under your skin and stimulate you for hours. First looks draw you in due to the attempts of the mind to understand what is going on (a rabbit’s head on a child’s body??). A second look has the viewer creating the story of the drama taking place. Additional reverences will bring you back to the magical and nonsensical aspects of the images. In short, the work is not easily read with a quick glance. It gets under your skin and makes you pause... it tests you. The beautiful colors, images and story line can bring you back repeatedly for unique experiences each time. For us, that is what a great piece of art can do – hold you, entertain you, test you, and transport you somewhere else.

We are proud to have Maggie’s work as part of Migration’s Invitational and hope to continue to feature it in the future.

Images include: Top - Patient Gardner. Bottom - Surrounded.