Multiple Selves of Hannah Maynard, The

A glimpse into the unique, eccentric mind of a pioneering Canadian photographer, Hannah Maynard (1834-1918). Born in England, Maynard immigrated with her family to Vancouver Island in 1862, where she set up her own portrait studio. After the sudden death of her youngest daughter, she produced a troubling series of experimental images that reflected her haunted state – an attempt to contact her beloved daughter’s spirit. Considered overly bold and unconventional, Maynard experimented with such techniques as collage, multiple exposure and photo-sculpture. She developed a surreal vision, a world obsessed with children and death, but also the spiritual possibilities of duality, mirrors and the infinity contained within them. Selected screenings & awards: Best Experimental Film Award, Female Eye Film Festival, Toronto, ON, 2005; International Festival of Films on Art, Montreal, QC, 2005