Visual AIDS Talk + Tour: Steven Arnold Exhibition with Simon Doonan, Vishnu Dass and Esther McGowan

To highlight the provocative exhibition of Steven Arnold's photography at Daniel Cooney Fine Art, Simon Doonan (Author, SLATE columnist, and Creative Ambassador for Barneys New York), Vishnu Dass (Executive Director of the Steven Arnold Museum and Archive), and Esther McGowan (Visual AIDS Associate Director), lead a guided tour and discussion of the exhibition, considering Steven Arnold's psychedelic set-based photography.

The exhibition is Daniel Cooney Fine Art's first exhibition of vintage photographs by Steven Arnold (1943-1994). Arnold was a protégé of Salvador Dali, and although largely known for his photography, had broad creative interests including filmmaking, painting, illustration, set and costume design, and assemblage sculpture.

Arnold grew up in Oakland, California and attended Oakland Technical High School. His high school art teacher, one of his life-long influences, encouraged him to make his art "from the inside out", urging him use his work to "solve problems on a soul level". While attending the San Francisco Art Institute in the early 60's Arnold traveled to Europe to study at the Ecole de Beaux Arts, eventually settling on the island of Formentera, off the coast of Spain. For several months he lived communally, taking LSD every day, experimenting with paints and costumes, taking up residence in caves, and exploring the small island. Arnold recalls: "This new drug was so euphoric and visionary, so positive and mind expanding... I ascended to another dimension, one so beautiful and spiritual that I was never the same."

Arnold resumed his studies at the San Francisco Art Institute in 1965, turning his eye on filmmaking, and making several short films. In 1969, while working on his MFA, Arnold began filming Luminous Procuress, which went on to win him the 1972 New Director's award at the San Francisco International Film Festival, an invite to Cannes Directors' Fortnight, and an extended exhibition at the Whitney Museum of American Art. Salvador Dali, who called Luminous an "extraordinary, fantastic film", arranged an exhibition at the St. Regis Hotel to New York's artistic elite.

From 1982-91, Arnold found his niche, designing and shooting tableau-vivants. He also created a social legacy in Los Angeles, known as Zanzibar Studios. Arnold hosted nightly salons, which, according to many who experienced them, have never been equaled. He culled inspiration from his dreams, world religions, sexuality, fine art masterpieces, Jungian archetypes, social attitudes, excess, and artifice. Arnold woke each afternoon to sketch his dreams and visions, which he used as storyboards for his photography. These drawings also inspired many Arnold's paintings and assemblage sculptures.

Arnold was diagnosed with AIDS in 1988 at the height of his popularity and died in 1994. His works are in the collections of the Whitney Museum of American Art, Frankfurter Kunstverein in Germany, the Museum of Modern Art, NY, Cinematheque Francaise in Paris, SF MoMA, the Oakland Museum of California, and the Cleveland Museum of Art.

PARTICIPANT BIOGRAPHIES:

Simon Doonan is an author, SLATE columnist, and Creative Ambassador for Barneys New York. He was a friend of Steven Arnold's. Writer, bon-vivant, window dresser extraordinaire and fashion commentator, he has worked in fashion for over 35 years. He has written six books: ‘Confessions of a Window Dresser,’ ‘Wacky Chicks,’ a memoir entitled ‘Beautiful People’ and tongue-in-cheek style guides entitled ‘Eccentric Glamour' and 'Gay Men Don't Get Fat'. His latest book 'THE ASYLUM: a collage of fashion reminiscences…and hysteria', is a collection of stories from his 35 years in the fashion industry. He has written regularly for The New York Observer, The Daily Beast, and currently writes a biweekly humor column for SLATE.com.

Simon is a regular guest at The MOTH, the well-known storytelling series. His contributions have consistently become their most popular podcasts and NPR broadcasts. A TV comedy series based on ‘Beautiful People’ has aired the UK, the US and Australia. Simon has been a featured guest on late-night talk shows such as Chelsea Lately and The Conan O'Brien Show. He has regularly appeared on America’s Next Top Model, VH1, Full Frontal Fashion and Bravo. Simon has won many awards for his groundbreaking and unconventional window displays, including the CFDA Award. In 2009 he was invited by President and Mrs. Obama to decorate the White House for the Holidays. In 2010 Simon was commissioned by Target to design the season’s Halloween costumes. Doonan lives in New York City with his partner, the ceramicist and designer Jonathan Adler and their rescue-dog Foxy.

Vishnu Dass is the Executive Director of the Steven Arnold Museum and Archive, and is currently completing Heavenly Bodies, a film documenting the surreal life and legacy of Steven Arnold.

Esther McGowan has been Associate Director of Visual AIDS since 2012. Previously, she was Development and Marketing Director at The Center for Fiction, and was a freelance development consultant engaging in fundraising and benefit planning for clients such as The Watermill Center and The Bronx Museum of the Arts. She was Development Director at Alliance for the Arts and Arts International, and earlier in her career, held positions at The Art Matters Foundation and Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts. She has a BA in Art History from NYU.