Meeting Annie Leibovitz

I met Annie Leibovitz at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Chicago after several hours of book signing. This was in the old small building, so I can Google-ize the date to before 1996 (the opening of the new MCA building). Annie was spirited and easy to talk to for an icon. She had an incredible positive energy. The back story of why I was able to spend fifteen minutes with Annie is funny and ridiculous.

You may not think you know who Annie Leibovitz is, but you know her work. John Lennon curled up naked on top of a fully clothed Yoko on the cover of Rolling Stone is a Leibovitz photo. A naked painted Demi Moore on the cover of Vanity Fair is a Leibovitz photo. Artist William Wegman cradling his favorite dog / subject Fay Ray is a Leibovitz photo. Annie's Wegman photo is my personal favorite of all Leibovitz photos.

Annie's camera sees into her subjects and her subjects are each and every one of us. That may sound like a funny statement considering Annie usually shoots stars and Hollywood royalty. Look hard at Annie's photos and you see truth and beauty.

My perception of Annie could be permanently altered by spending fifteen minutes getting to know her. Annie is kind, calm and giving. Janet McKean, the former Store Manager at the Museum of Contemporary Art (MCA) in Chicago, myself, an artist who worked for Janet named Zack and another MCA artist / clerk got to speak with Annie after her book signing. Annie was unhurried. Zack asked if he could take a picture of her. She said sure. Zack had a strange piece of rusted iron about six inches long with two parallel bars and a loop. "What's this," I remember Annie asking as she put the looped metal to her eye and peered out at Zack. Zack snapped ten pictures. It was strange and a testament to Annie's humble quiet personality that no one thought to hand Annie the camera. She enjoyed being subject and relaxed into that moment easily and with grace and courage. Going new places was something Annie did easily and well. I will never forget how gracious and giving she was. Everyone in this small group had time with Annie. She made sure to treat each of us as if we just came off a Rolling Stone shoot. Have you ever met a highly accomplished person who made you feel like you were the important one? This is what Annie did for each of us that day.

The ridiculous back story is the Art Institute of Chicago, the other older larger museum in Chicago, turned down the Leibovitz book signing. Seems the Art Institute didn't see such a signing as consistent with their charter. It wasn't so much the turn down as the snotty way they turned the event down. The Art Institute staff acted like Annie Leibovitz was beneath them. Kudos to my ex Janet McKean for snapping Annie up without a second thought. Janet created a great event. The little MCA had a line out around the block for the signing. Annie stayed until everyone in that line received a signed book. She spent a quality minute or two with each patron. She even stayed to sign another hundred or so books Janet was smart enough to order. The Art Institute's loss was Janet, the MCA and my gain.

I wouldn't trade those fifteen minutes with Annie. Right now sitting here writing this I wish I had a copy of Annie's book along with a copy of that picture Zack took with Annie holding rusted iron in front of her eye. Thanks Zack. Thanks Janet. Thanks Annie.

Read more about Annie, Janet and Zack at http://ScentTrail.blogspot.com.