CounterPULSE artist in residence, Seth Eisen writes and directs an ensemble of multidisciplinary performers/artists/collaborators in his new Queer history performance project titled Homo File, chronicling the life of Sam Steward, (1909-1993).

Steward was a college professor, a prolific author of homoerotic fiction, an influential tattoo artist, and Queer sexual maverick who lived his last 3 decades in the Bay Area. His artistic development and Queer self-awareness evolved through friendships with Alfred Kinsey, Gertrude Stein and Alice B. Toklas, Thornton Wilder, George Platt Lynes as well as numerous other LGBT luminaries.

The performance will feature Steward’s steadfast practice of documenting his private experiences and the development of his alliances amongst Queer artists in an era of few civil liberties. Steward and his circle helped shape contemporary Queer culture despite the repressive climate they existed in. The threat of being outed, tried and jailed were always imminent. Steward was a Queer maverick and one of many lost LGBT histories. Homo File will explore and contrast the lives and relationships between our contemporary Queer culture and that of the early-mid 20th century artists that required significant risks for survival.

Homo File will combine puppetry, live music, video, aerial circus, live drawing and physical theater. The piece will work to raise awareness about Sam Steward and his Queer and artistic milieu of the 1930s-through the 1970s. With Homo File, Eye Zen Art continues to harness and reclaim historic traditions of Queer culture to provoke essential dialogue and promote social research into the lives of LGBTQ ancestors.

The show premiers September 20th--30th in San Francisco at CounterPULSE

Visit my artist blog on the CounterPULSE site here to learn more ab...

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