TheBorissMagazine: May 2019

"Peer pressure is very real. Rallying can go either way. Be careful and think whom you choose as your friends. People want to belong and have a sense of belonging. If you feel neglected somewhere you might look somewhere else. You should be able to be pleased with your deeds when you close your eyes at night and be at peace with your deeds. Live long without 'burning out' and do onto others as you do to yourself."

World famous art photographer Meryl Meisler's grandfather Murray Meisler came from Galizia, Poland to United States out of necessity and was a transman. Hungarian-origin grandmother Elizabeth, "my yankee grandma", grew up on a farm in Wisconsin; a very 'blue-collar' background.

Grandfather was "very strict disciplinarian". Grandmother was "very sweet nurturing caretaker". "Parents were very devoted; kids always number one." Very 'family that plays together stays together'. "Siblings were best friends. Parents were very hard-working and adventurous and had a sense of humor." Very "you don't have to be a 'nudist' to visit a 'nudist colony' etcetcetc Very open-minded and free-spirited, in their own way".

This made Meryl Meisler's artwork "very open-minded; try things but still have to have 'a trade' to fall back on". Initially came "Meryl Meisler, school art teacher" not "a risk-taker".

"A shy ambivert and workaholic, bringing a photo camera

has always been 'grounding'. Definetely in middle of introverted and extroverted, but can go to extremes. Sometimes it's time to 'sit still' and sometimes it's time to 'move around."

"Daddy", rather than 'father', raised Meryl to be "an individual even though he worked a lot he came home every night"; so no 'Daddy Issues' there. "I'm very lucky. Daddy admired people with real talent as a "God's gift".

"Sunny", rather than 'mother', "was vivacious and Unforgettable"; despite having three kids she went back to work as soon as possible and always had multiple array of full-time jobs

and "as soon as she found her calling she 'stuck with it'; she instilled 'a sense of loyalty''. 'Meryl Meisler the photographer' is "a blend of both parents".

"Close", Meryl's mother and aunt were "very close", and "best friends"; they "kept family together". Patricia Ryan, 'life partner', and Meryl Meisler went to school together and their 'child', their 'doggy', is named via VIA.

"Taking photos was a way of relating to grandfather, not dad. Initially was just "something we did. Photographing at Bronx Zoo was my 'going fishing'. Grandfather was not a very 'warm person'

but he liked photographing." Now world-famous photographer, Meryl "took" what she learns from her "religious yet very progressive parents" as model and "kept going".

"I didn't go to photograph. I photograph where I was going". And she "kept going", and keeps going, particularly with her second photography book "Purgatory and Paradise". "This explains what 'eye' I have. A lot of people were photographing 'the clubs'.

I see mine as 'funny', but mine caught on. Culture is essential. Cultural is something that grows and develops. You are what you 'eat'.

"It also helps to be encouraged, absolutely. To to be spoken to in a positive manner.

Exposure to an admiration for arts in general. Very important exposing younger people to vast array of the Arts".

Back to "Purgatory and Paradise" book, there are a lot of juxtapositions between recent times.

Both happened during a major economic recession.

One decade a loft space could have been purchased for $15,000 another $150,000.

Both had a crazy and very monetary viable 'nightclub scene'

and also a huge Art Gallery scene that popped up practically out of nowhere and "throughout that there were always exciting young people".

"For a younger person, its ok to be different. I am product of my background. Who knows? I maybe would have been a different person. Its not a map its a journey. It's healthy to have role models to know that you are not alone in this universe.

Yes, there are those people who are 'shooting stars', but there's a place for all of us.

Advice for a young 'creative':

Keep doing it.

Preserved it.

Keep going.

Stay healthy, so you can live long enough to enjoy it.

It's like a parking spot, eventually you'll find one.

You're here for a reason.

Look for helpers.

You and your life is worthwhile.

MerylMeisler

courtesy of StevenKasherGallery

courtesy of Bizarre Books