Built on nine decades of professional and personal archives, UNCLE ROY follows the extraordinary life of globe-travelling-skater-turned-photographer Roy Blakey through the lens of his niece, award-winning documentary filmmaker Keri Pickett.
Born in Oklahoma in 1930, Roy dreamed of performing on ice. He began collecting figure skating programs and photographs, a collection that expanded over his lifetime to 44,000 items, including posters, costumes, and so much more. This love of figure skating also led Roy to a career in theatrical skating, performing globally with Holiday on Ice before becoming a photographer in New York. Roy’s photography captured iconic figures, including queer icons, while his work in male nudes pushed boundaries in art and publishing.
Growing up, Keri didn’t know her mysterious uncle Roy until she followed him to New York City to pursue her dream of becoming a professional photographer. As their lives converged, a friendship began. After learning that her uncle was considered a “forefather of gay photography”, she helped him reintroduce his portraits of a generation largely lost to AIDS.
Followed by a panel discussion with Thomas Waugh, Ruth DyckFehderau, & Matthew Hays
Metro Passes: only Silver Screen accepted (at the doors).
