Q&A
Having spent a period of time in London, Maren has returned to the US and is constantly producing new images. Surrounding herself with creative and inspiring people she has produced a beautiful archive of work. She along with Jacob Bauer and John Mark run www.cashmereclubhause.com a hub of inspiring illustration, words and pictures and moving image.
What is your nationality? / Where are you currently based?
Ever so slightly multigrain, but I look like 100% whitebread. I am about 1/32 Native American Chippewa, my boyfriend is a direct descendent of Pocahantas (no joke) (really). My family comes mainly from some misbehaving monks who came to America to give up celibacy and get jiggy wit it. We are currently based in Traverse City, Michigan. It sucks.
Could you tell us a little about your “winter” collection of work; what is the thought process behind these images and are they related to a larger body of work?
.... Speaking of the devil. I took those photographs about, oh, two years ago. I was SO depressed. I had just come home from London because my mom's health was failing, a good friend was having a double lung transplant and I couldn't afford living overseas anymore (they are doing fairly well now, excepting my finances). ANYWHO, coming home to a Michigan Winter + sad circumstances + moving back in with your parents + small midwestern town without culture = ROCK BOTTOM. So I sure hope they're not related to a bigger body of work! I hope they're not related to anything anymore!
Diptychs and Triptychs often appear in your work, why is it you have chosen to present in this way? And what do you feel it adds to the work?
Pairing photographs... well it's like hanging out with the right person. You might not have anything in common but you bring things out in each other. Good or bad. Even in physical ways. You got a big tall friend and all of a sudden you're gonna look teeny tiny. So, if I wanted to make something warm look warmer, I would put it next to something blue and cold. Etc etc. Or if I wanted you to notice a yellow light I might pair it with a yellow jar, like a way of saying a lamp is like a jar of light... yeah, I don't really think about any of that.
Have any other photographers or artists influenced your image making?
SOPHIE CURTIS & DAN PRICE & ALEX HOWARD. Sofie and Alex recently began pus-eye.com, check it yo. They have a really distinctly simple style that is a kind of like magic that iss real. That sounds silly but it doesn't look silly. More recently, John Hanson has been a huge influence. He's been taking large format photographs (huuugge 3"x4" negatives)
We see from your wide body of work that you use many different formats. Do you have one preferred kit/format when creating your images?
Mostly I use 35mm film. I worked in a camera shop so I still have an "in" over there. But I've been really like slides lately- they're like a little slice of life. Positive image. Like precise stained glass. Most beautiful colors ever to come outta a camera - Sensia 200 baaaaby.
What lies ahead in the near future for you? Do you have any new projects waiting in the wings?
MOTION PICTURE FILM. Yeah! We should be done in November sometime. We've been shooting 16mm. Making book-wings, lighting lanterns, climbing trees and going out in the golden hour. And Cashmere Club ( cashmereclubhouse.com!) which we hope will be an international club for illustrators, photographers, filmmakers, writers and anyone who makes things that shouldn't be a secret from the world. Oh, and our band, Photographers, is working on a new EP called "Songs in Ursa Minor", that will be out hopefully before December.
And finally: London or New York?
London london london london london london. I miss it so much, especially its people. Earl Grey tea practically makes me cry. John and I are going in January, if we could take pictures for our board, or if anyone has an open couch, please let us know!