1970s Castro Memories Celebrated in Photography Show at Queer Arts Featured

San Francisco’s Castro district witnessed a remarkable homecoming on June 6, as the San Francisco gallery Queer Arts Featured (Queer AF) opened “Positives & Negatives: Memories From Castro Camera in the Time of Harvey Milk,” showcasing rare photography and memorabilia from Harvey Milk’s Castro Camera shop–in the very place the historic shop once resided. Now Queer AF’s own gallery space, the site welcomed the groundbreaking exhibition featuring Daniel Nicoletta, Castro Camera’s former employee and Milk’s close friend, alongside fellow photographers and archivists who documented the vibrant 1970s Castro community through their lenses.

The opening celebration captured the era’s spirit of radical joy with Grammy-nominated performer RonKat Spearman getting people moving alongside musician John Cotto, while original Al Fellahin dancers Phillip Ruise and Malia DeFelice brought the gallery space to life with their performances. Featured photographer Yeli Sanchez joined the historic gathering that included many original photo subjects, reuniting after decades. The exhibition’s crown jewel revealed Harvey Milk’s own artistic vision through four previously unseen erotic photographs, marking Queer Arts Featured’s first show honoring the space’s legendary past. This artist-run gallery, celebrating its third anniversary this year, continues its mission of highlighting underrepresented queer artists, while reducing financial barriers through reduced commissions and accessible community programming.