Vivian Maier, Chicago's Reclusive Photographer

Vivian Maier 1926 - 2009

Chicago Tonight on Photographer Vivian Maier

Just days after her death at the age of 83 the photography of a reclusive Chicago nanny surfaced. Over 100,000 photographs and more still being processed reveal her to be one of the great talents of American photography in the 20th century.

Photograph by Vivian Maier 

posted from the blog, Vivian Maier - Her Discovered Work

And The Winner Is...

Grant Wood's American Gothic

My Grant Wood Coffee Cup

The winner of my recent non-scientific poll for favorite Great American Painting is Grant Wood's iconic painting American Gothic. The painting "epitomizes the Puritan ethic and virtues that he believed dignified the Midwestern character" so says The Art Institute of Chicago where the 1930 painting resides. One sign of the affection people hold for this image is the popularity of parodies based on the image. Here, Kermit and Miss Piggy take up the famous pitchfork (note who is holding the pitchfork in this one).

Kermit and Miss Piggy Parody Grant Wood's American Gothic

Tied for second place were Jasper John's Flagg and Georgia O'Keeffe's Cow's Skull: Red, White and Blue. Coming in third, An American Portrait by Fritz Scholder and last, Gilbert Stuart's unfinished portrait, George Washington.