Steven F. Arnold

[1][2] At four or five years old, he found a chest of theatrical costumes and make-up belonging to his uncle in the attic of his parents' house, and from then on devoted himself to the art of transformation, constantly dressing up to amuse himself, his fashion model sister, and his babysitter.The pair became inseparable, and would spend hours in Steven's bedroom drinking champagne and Romilar cough syrup, smoking opium, marijuana, and cigarettes, dressing up, and playing with make-up.It was also around this time that Violet Chew's friend, artist Ira Yeager, noticed that "it was Steven who actually initiated ‘hippie’ dress in San Francisco, before it was fashionable.Feeling confined by the stiff, traditional curriculum at École des Beaux-Arts, Arnold and a group of American classmates rented villas on the small island of Formentera off the coast of Spain.[17] Dalí dubbed Arnold the 'prince' of his Court of Miracles, which included other counter-culture icons such as Donyale Luna, Andy Warhol superstar Ultra Violet, Amanda Lear, Marianne Faithfull, David Bowie and Mick Jagger.The film is narrated by Anjelica Huston, and features interviews with Ellen Burstyn, Simon Doonan, Stuart Comer, Holly Woodlawn, Theodora Van Runkle, Ed Moses, and many others.
Self Portrait (1983) by American artist Steven Arnold
A still from Steven F. Arnold's film, Luminous Procuress , featuring his lifelong friend, model, and muse, Pandora.
Dressed for Dalí , a tableau-vivant by American artist Steven Arnold.
Salvador Dalícostume designerassemblageOakland, CaliforniaOakland Technical High SchoolLOUIS XIVSan Francisco Art InstituteÉcole des Beaux-ArtsFormenteraRuth WeissDirectors' FortnightChicago International Film FestivalToronto International Film FestivalNorth BeachMan RayMeliesold French animationsThe CockettesMatrix nightclubSan Francisco soundSan Francisco International Film FestivalWhitney Museum of American ArtAndy WarholTeatro-Museo DalíDonyale LunaUltra VioletAmanda LearMarianne FaithfullDavid BowieMick JaggerEllen BurstynSimon Doonanworld religionssexualityfine art masterpiecesJungian archetypesFrankfurter KunstvereinCinémathèque FrançaiseSF MoMAOakland Museum of CaliforniaONE National Gay and Lesbian Archive and MuseumCincinnati Art MuseumAnjelica HustonStuart ComerHolly WoodlawnTheodora Van RunkleEd Moses