Antioch University Los Angeles Announces Upcoming Art Exhibit by Felice Picano “Early Gay Presses: 1977-1997” to open November 14, 2007

CULVER CITY, CA – October 13, 2007 – Antioch University Los Angeles, in partnership with the LGBT specialization in Clinical Psychology program, today announced upcoming art exhibit and lecture by acclaimed artist and author Felice Picano.

The exhibit, entitled Early Gay Presses: 1977-1997, features artwork such as covers, interior layouts, posters and advertising from the first generation of “out” gay books published beginning in the late 70’s and spanning over two decades. The event will kick off at 7:00pm on Wednesday, November 14th with an opening reception, public lecture and reading from Picano’s new work Art and Sex in Greenwich Village. The exhibit is free and open to the public and is located on the first floor of the AULA campus at 400 Corporate Pointe in Culver City.

“We are thrilled to showcase Felice Picano’s work” says LGBT Specialization Director, Douglas Sadownick, Ph.D.. “Felice is a founder of SeaHorse Press, one of the founders of Gay Presses of New York, and an infamous member of the Violet Quill group. He literally established modern gay writing as we know if it today.”

Picano, an award-winning author of over 17 books, is thought by many to be best known for The Lure, set post-Stonewall. His revolutionary work heralded the LGBT movement with a bold call to action that allowed the LGBT community to believe that their sexualities and psychologies were worthy of the greatest artistic representation. He is also known for co-writing The Joy of Gay Sex with Charles Silverstein (updated in 2003) and for his heralded Like People in History, as well as science fiction works such as Dryland’s End.

“Picano’s work heralds the ‘Golden Age of Gay Literature’ - publishing such figures as Dennis Cooper, Harvey Fierstein, and Robert Gluck,” adds Dr. Steve Heller, Chair of Antioch’s MFA in Creative Writing Program. “I personally encourage anyone who loves literature to come hear Mr. Picano read from his new book and see this incredible exhibit. It’s a veritable “who’s who” of the gay literature world from the 70’s to the 90’s.”

The exhibit and lecture are scheduled in part to celebrate AULA’s ground-breaking specialization in LGBT psychology, which recently marked its one-year anniversary. Antioch’s MFA in Creative Writing program, recently named one of the top five low-residency programs in the US by Atlantic Monthly, is also an event co-sponsor.

“It makes sense that Felice would come and talk about his book to our students, faculty—and to the larger public” added Dr. Sadownick. “Gay literature plays a huge role in the developing LGBT psychology movement and is a nature fit to our institution and mission of social change and equality.”

A fundraiser to raise matching funds for the $20,000 grant given to the Sandra Golvin LGBT Studies Scholarship will take place prior to the public opening on November 14th. Individuals donating a minimum of $50 can take part in a special personal tour of the exhibit by the artist beginning at 5pm.

For more information on this event or becoming a donor, please contact Dr. Douglas Sadownick at 310-578-1080 x309 or Douglas_Sadownick@antiochla.edu .

For more information on Antioch University Los Angeles, please visit www.antiochla.edu.