That’s Verushka above holding the crystal ball. The premium European Sex Pot 1960s Supermodel Extraordinaire will always be remembered for her natural inclinations toward the artistic and extreme. This photo being a prime example of her unnatural talents, but it wouldn’t be without the stand alone talent of Don Snyder [1934-2010] and his remarkable publication “Aquarian Odyssey: A Photographic Trip into the Sixties”.

Since we’ve been especially psychedelic lately with our recent posts, it was important for us to go one step further and discover the psychedelic moods in the art and fashion of the day. There really was no better artist to turn to than Don Snyder, whose work is a cosmic collection of photographs taken throughout New York City in the 60s, as well as communes in New England and San Francisco.

The photographs he captured are both timeless and magical, and offer a beautiful glimpse into a not so far away world. His combination of stark reality with the whimsy of his surroundings create for priceless and spectacular moments caught in time. It’s all in the subtlety of each shot; the magic he has captured, proof there must truly be a God, or perhaps that Don Snyder is one.

Either way, let us not forget Don Snyder and his wicked gifts he has left for this generation to covet. Don passed in 2010 alone without a will, leaving an apartment full of prints and negatives the world might never get the privilege to see! He was known as a gifted photographer, and an even better teacher – “the alchemist of the darkroom”.

His friends and colleagues remember him for both the ingenuity and artistry of the man, but also his kind and dynamic spirit. While some might say the Psychedelic Art movement died with the times, young artists are emerging with some of the same sensibilities we see in Snyder’s work. Photographers like Petra Collins, Elliot Lee Hazel, and Ryan McGinley can all be seen as forgers of the same odyssey.

Sixties psychedelia has always “turned me on”, and while 2012 and the future seems to be striving for some sort of impossible sleekness. There is an unbearable inclination towards  cutting-edge in technology, and perhaps we have forgotten the strides the “Age of Aquarius” took for us.

The influential people of this moment were not celebrities seeking hits on a web page. The influential people of this generation were making dramatic steps to shaping the future. Causes of consideration included  civil rights, women’s rights, gay and lesbian rights, the liberation from the repression of sexuality, as well as the controversial use of drugs or “herbs” such as marijuana or LSD, all these things have been brought to the forefront of popular culture thanks to millions of brave “Aquarians” everywhere.

Now that all these steps have been made, it is up to younger generations not to let these messages fall to the wayside.  We must keep on keeping on, or have our freedoms slowly and unwittingly fall to our wayside. Yes, steps have been made, but where are we going? This is the question Don Snyder asks. And his “Aquarian Odyssey” represents a moment of hope amidst great uncertainty for the future. Sounds familiar, right?

Don Snyder’s “Aquarian Odyssey: A Photographic Trip into the Sixties” is a rare book to come by these day, but there is no denying the spell kept within. Browsing Barnes and Noble, a few copies can be found in near perfect condition, and with the recent death of the artist, and the rising interest in this niche of popular culture and history, it wouldn’t be unwise to pick one up today! A sure-fire great addition to any well-rounded style library!

Don’t forget!  When the moon is in the seventh house, The Eye of Faith will always be there! Snyder was a smart man for leaving his legacy behind with this one publication. Perhaps with these photos we can seek to find an answer to some of life’s great mysteries. Hope we helped you get there. Wherever that may be.

Sincerely,

{[The Eye]}

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