Marie-Claire Montanari:
Reflections
Apogee Photo Magazine
Marie-Claire’s “The Nude You” Website
Marie-Claire’s Photography Website
Marie-Claire Montanari:
Purple Laundry Hanging from Rafters
In this photo, Marie-Claire captures the unique handcreated threads as they hang on the wooden beams. The colors are spectacular — deep purples, deep reds, deep greens. It was warm day in the small marketpllace in Marrakech, and the these threads hung limply because there wasn’t even a hint of a breeze. Marie-Claire said this scene attracted her because, “It looks like it’s in a different century.”
Lily pads floating in Wave Hill, a public garden in the Bronx
The photo was taken at Toscanini’s house in the Bronx. The shadows and light bring out nature’s charm. This lovely, soothing photo was exhibited at the NYC Central Park Exhibition, and also in the Orly airport in France. While in the airport, an admirer stopped Marie-Claire in front of her water lilies and said that she thought they were beautiful because the white flowers were in proportion to the lily pads.
Boats in Tulane, France: Toulon Le Mourillon is a small seaside neighborhood to the east of Toulon, near the entrance of the harbour. It was once a fishing village, and then became the home of many of the officers of the French fleet. Mourillon has a small fishing port, next to a 16th-century fort, Fort Saint Louis, which was reconstructed by Vauban.
“The colors attracted me,” explained Marie-Claire. “I made them look abstract. I captured shadows of the boats in the water. I made them blend into the sea.”
In the 1970s the city of Toulon built a series of sheltered sandy beaches in Mourillon,has a Mediterranean climate, characterized by abundant and strong sunshine, dry summers, and rain which is rare but sometimes torrential; and by hot summers and mild winters. Because of its proximity to the sea, the temperature is relatively moderate.
Marrakech has one of the busiest squares in Africa. It bustles with acrobats, story-tellers, water sellers, dances and musicians. In this scene, Marie-Claire has captured a very primitive, backwards part of the city. Here, a beautiful girl walks along the rose walls of the city. She becomes part of the colors of the streets – the pink, red, and orange of the robes make her a perfect part of the color blend.
While all the women in Morocco wear robes, they don’t need to wear head coverings. Children dress in shorts and t-shirts, their shadows following closely behind them. On this day, the weather was 130 degrees Fahrenheit, and very dry. When the artist finally boarded the plane to go back to New York City, she was told by the airline that the crew would have to take gas OUT of the plane, because the consistency of the air was too light.
This fashionable mannequin reflects on the New York City outside her window, while she herself is reflected through the streets and buildings. Marie-Claire picked this mannequin because it looked alive – gracefully reaching across its shoulder and poised to perfection. She wears the graceful flowing dress of times gone by. Today, new mannequins are built faceless and unreal. Although this mannequin is motionless, the artist chose an ethereal moment in time.
What’s in vogue for mannequin models these days does not seem to reflect what’s in vogue for real women. In the interest of saving money and being as politically correct, the mannequins preferred by most window dressers today seem to be either headless or featureless, with vaguely defined features. With the photographer’s expert eye, Marie-Claire chooses mannequins rigid face and imparts liveliness into it.
According to Mannequin Madness: “Mannequins with faces make it easier for customers to visualize themselves wearing the clothing. With the current trend of headless or egghead mannequins – which have no ethnic identity at all – it is refreshing to see a designer who celebrates ethnic diversity. Most retailers now want to their mannequins to be neutral, which to me ends up being bland.”
Marie-Claire Montanari works with shadows and light to bring beauty to a sort of triptych of ideas: street scenes, poignant moments, and female bodies. Her current show “Reflections” is showcased at “Art Inside Piola” at 48 E 12th St, New York, NY.
- mannequins reflecting in New York City
- It’s a fun place to sip wine and view some of her cool and soothing photos — from “Zebra Torso” to “Portrait of Twins” to “Flying Hat with Three Shadows.” You can view more go to http://www.thenudeyou.com and http://www.marieclairemontanari.com or email her at info@thenudeyou.com. Show ends 1/14/11
marie-claire montanari photography 