Artist Statement
Meet Me in the Green Glen
This is a portrait of Ben, a marijuana grower in California. Although marijuana is legal to grow and use in California within strict guidelines, there are situations in which it is still illegal. It is not culturally acceptable to grow or sell despite the fact that it is a large part of the local economy. Every year Ben hires young men to help with the harvest season. They work for about one month and then he is alone again. The story I am communicating is not simply about pot growing, it is also about the experience of a socially isolated person and our relationship.
American Literature, in particular Flannery O’Connor and Annie Proulx, have had a significant influence
on my work. They depict flawed characters and anti-heroes for whom life is a constant struggle, yet have grace. In describing the landscape both writers evoke an ominously psychological and emotional sense of place in which the environment becomes a character unto itself and amplifies the aloneness of the characters.

 

 

Maureen Drennan is a photographer born and based in New York City.
She is currently an adjunct professor of photography at LaGuardia Community College and Kingsborough Community College in New York City.

Education

2009 MFA in Photography, School of Visual Arts, New York
2002 MLS with specialization in photo archives, University of Wisconsin- Madison

Exhibition History

2011
Solo Exhibition, The Wild Project, New York, NY
100 Portraits, Australia Centre for Photography, Sydney Australia
Aperture Foundation's Limited Edition Contemporary Prints Exhibition
The Wild Project, New York, NY
Philadelphia Photo Arts Center, "A Love Supreme", Philadelphia
The Collector's Guide to New Art Photography Volume Two, Chelsea Art Museum, New York
Newspace Center for Photography, Portland, OR
Professional Women Photographers 35th Anniversary Juried Exhibition, Soho Photo Gallery, New York

2010
FotoWeek DC, 100 Portraits, Photo Projection
Portrait Revealed, Rayko Gallery, San Francisco, CA
Fellowship Award Exhibition, Silvereye Center for Photography, Pittsburgh, PA

2009
University of the Arts Gallery, Philadelphia, PA
International Exhibition of Fine Art Photography, Fort Collins, CO
MFA Photography Thesis Show, Visual Arts Gallery, New York, NY

2008
Friends of Photography juried show, Toledo, Oh

Awards and Publications

2011
Runner Up, Camera Club of New York Residency

2010
Humble Arts, The Collector's Guide to New Art Photography Volume Two
Review Santa Fe nominated participant
LOOKBetween Festival of the Photograph nominated participant
Graphic Intersections, The Exposure Project
Unless You Will, Photography Journal Issue 3

2009
Aperture Portfolio Prize, Runner Up
Photo Review International Photography Competition
Artist As Citizen Climate Design Contest
In the Loupe, Photographic Resource Center Publication
Hey Hot Shot Contender

2008
Photo District News Student Winner

Select Online Press

2011
PDN Photo of the Day
New York Times Lensblog, On a California Farm Where Marijuana Grows, Aug 15, 2011

2010
ONEEIGHTNINE, "Ice Fishing by Maureen R. Drennan", June 9
Flak Photo, "Photo of the Day", June 8
[EV +/-] Exposure Compensation, "Maureen Drennan", May 21
Pittsburgh City Paper, "Silver Eye Fellowship Award Show", March 17

2009
The Exposure Project, "Maureen Drennan's Meet Me in the Green Glen", Nov 3
Mull it Over, Interview, September 21
Visual Rhetoric blog, Interview, September
New York Times Dot Earth blog, Artist as Citizen finalist "Thin Ice", September
Hey Hot Shot! Blog, "SVA MFA 2009 Thesis Show", June 17
See Things Through, A Visual Journal, "Maureen Drennan", June 14
Conscientious, "Maureen Drennan", June 10

 

Cross-Reference