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Maria Verrier
Not Forgotten
The motivation to create the series Not Forgotten was twofold; a newly rediscovered treasure of childhood shoes found in my parents’ attic and a visit to the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam where several of his shoe portraits are on display. And so began my persistent hunt for the ideal locations, diffused light and timeless context that would allow me to create an emotional narrative, and evoke the character of the shoe’s possessor. Approaching the project with a perspective that, “every shoe tells a story” the images were created as a means of unfolding subtle hints about the wearer, their circumstance and personal journey. Although universal to us all, shoes embody the particular characteristics of the owner – some elusive, others more explicit. Shoes can provide an escape from reality, an unbound happiness, or armor against life’s unfavorable conditions. In this work, the well-worn shoes suggest a surprisingly intimate and revealing portrait of our human existence.
Artist Bio
Inspired by a single image at DeCordova Museum more than 10 years ago – captivated by its dreamlike possibility and surreal glimpse into another world – Maria Verrier was provoked to begin her journey of discovery as photographer. The spontaneity of the medium fuels her enthusiasm for capturing images that evoke the complexity, splendor and in some cases, the despair of our existence. She explores universal emotions that simultaneously represent our fractured ability to communicate, the inaudible wish to be understood, and the search for self. Both a “gatherer and a hunter” when it comes to capturing images, Verrier seeks out the endless possibilities on back roads, in abandoned structures and creates photographs are intertwined with a rich narrative and autobiography.
Recent exhibits include the Three Stones Gallery in Concord, MA; Peter Miller Fine Art Photography in Providence, RI; and the Winter Show at the Bromfield Gallery, Boston, MA.
The In-between, Birds of Sorrow and A True Self were exhibited in group shows for the Atelier at the Griffin Museum of Photography. A True Self was also exhibited at the Rockport Art Association from which a photograph was selected for the book Family.Life – a project created by Syracuse University’s S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications, which explores the feelings, relationships, obstacles, and identities of families through visual stories produced by photography schools around the world.
Verrier was selected as a commissioned photographer to launch Transition House’s 40 Stories Project, resulting in 20 portrait sessions for the year-long pro-bono project intended to raise funds and awareness for the domestic violence emergency shelter in Cambridge, MA.
A Boston native, Verrier’s passion to capture the beautiful decay and imperfections found in abandoned industrial buildings has led to private commissions of historic landmarks located throughout New England. Her photography is permanently exhibited at Loft Five50, Counting House Lofts, The Sibley Building and Voke Lofts. Several images from the Voke portfolio were featured in ArchitectureBoston Magazine in 2015.
Contact Maria Verrier