Photo: Joan Didion in Berkeley, August, 1972.
Must be something in the water, something about the ocean air, about Brooklyn being up on the edge of the continent like this, that produces such an extraordinary breed of photographer. Native Roger Steffens (b. 1942) is one of that proud number, with his legacy extending far beyond the scope of the photography. A renowned musicologist, Steffens has published six books on Bob Marley, and has the world’s largest collection of the reggae legend’s materials. But wait, that’s not all. Steffens has also been an actor and narrator in both documentary and drama films including Forrest Gump, Wag the Dog, and The Flight of the Gossamer Condor.
Also: A “Message to the Future” from an American Legend
So how did he get into photography?, you may ask. Interesting story: Steffens began taking pictures while serving in the Psychological Operations Unit during the Vietnam War. In the intervening 40 years, Steffens has amassed an archive wit over 400,000 black and white negatives and Kodachrome slides. For those in the know, Kodachrome was the move; the colors were rich, vibrant, luxurious affairs. In many ways, they were even live-er than life itself.
Mary, Queen of the Cactus, April, 1986
There’s something about the look of popular technology after it’s gone, the way it recalls an emotion buried deep within the collective memory. And perhaps it is the delectable scent of nostalgia that beckons us back to an earlier time. Yes, perhaps that is why Steffens’ children Kate and Devon, began going through their father’s archive. Joined by their mother Mary, they began archiving, digitizing, and curating photographs posted on Instagram as The Family Acid.
And just like that, a love connection was born as some 34,500 people began following along, bringing back the spirit of an older age. And now, for the first time, their work is on view in The Family Acid at Benrubi Gallery, New York, through August 26, 2016.
A Spliff a Day, June, 1976
To put it simply, The Family Acid is everything you’ve ever wanted, and then maybe just a little bit more. It is lush, luxurious vibes in the thick summer air as the smoke hangs lower than the cloud and the tabs melt on the tip of your tongue. It’s like falling down the rabbit hole and blazing through Wonderland. It’s like a tea party with Hunter s, Thompson, Timothy Leary, and Joan Didion, and then a hit of the hookah with that caterpillar over yonder.
The Family Acid is a revelation, as the best trips so often art. It is a reminder of the pleasures of life, of personal freedom, and the power of self-determination as seen through the eyes of an artist. Each photograph pulls you in so much so you start wondering if you’re having an out of body experience. Have I been here before, or is this just a dream?
Mother Mary, June, 1975
All photos: ©Roger Steffens and The Family Acid/Courtesy of Benrubi Gallery, NYC
Miss Rosen is a New York-based writer, curator, and brand strategist. There is nothing she adores so much as photography and books. A small part of her wishes she had a proper library, like in the game of Clue. Then she could blaze and write soliloquies to her in and out of print loves.
