Damien Moreau And More At Salon X

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Damien Moreau is a film maker and photographer who currently moonlights as the receptionist at Salon X.

Born in New Mexico, Damien grew up in Wyoming. He moved to Boston to study Art at 17 but hated it and decided to become a dancer instead. He studied ballet in Amsterdam before returning to the States and landing in NYC.

As fate would have it, he found himself working in the Art World until very recently.

Could you tell us which artists you worked with in NYC?I worked with: Jene Highstein, Kimsooja, Wangechi Mutu, Keith Sonnier, Lawrence Wiener

You are now in the process editing a film you made in Mexico City. When will it be completed?
Lust For Life is the name of the film. It’s my first feature film. We just finished the English subtitles this month, as it was written and filmed in Spanish. I’m trying to get funding at the moment so hopefully it will be released in early 2017. I’m raising money so that people can see it for free when it premieres in Mexico City. Then I expect it to travel to festivals afterwards. I’m already working on my next two big projects an adaptation of Samuel R. Delany’s Sci-fi short story Aye, and Gomorrah...and another about a futurist Queer Utopia.
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How did you wind up in Taos?
I thought about the one place I could live in the United States that was removed from the United States. I wanted to live in a remote secluded place to focus on my work, but that place had to be close to nature and beautiful. Now I live on the slope of a mountain with stunning views of Taos and the surrounding mountains. I’ve always moved around but for the first time I feel like I have a home base somewhere to leave and come back to.
img_5103-bwWhen you first arrived you worked for David Mapes, who has a really beautiful gallery here. With your Art background one wonders why you didn’t stay on with DAFA?
David is a generous and super ambitious person. He’s trying to make Taos a great place for the people who live here and who come to visit. I admire his enthusiasm for change and community. He took a chance on me when I moved here and was looking for a job. I was only at his gallery for a few months because I realized that my interest and years working in the art world are over, I lost the passion for it. I will always appreciate art and its intention but I no longer wish to be that intimately involved with the inner workings.
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How did you end up being hired by Delta?
Delta and I have a mutual friend in the hair industry who recommended I see if Delta might need an assistant. And there you have it. I’m excited to be working with Delta and everyone at Salon X. It’s a bit different from working with art but I like this much more, it has all the elements I love about working with art: people, emotion, aesthetics and creativity. Salon X is a positive environment where people come to feel good about the way they look. They leave the salon with a light in their eyes and a smile on their face and I feel lucky to be a part of their joy.

Salon X and its clientel feel equally lucky to be greeted by Damien’s gracious and charming demeanor. Lest we forget Damien is a serious artist in his own right, Delta asked him to photograph the talented Salon X team (including himself) and generously shared the shots with me for this post.

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Late Autumn is the perfect time to schedule an appointment with Delta or any one of Salon X’s fabulous stylists for a fresh new look. As things slow down and we head into Winter, it’s an opportunity to have Summer’s dry ends trimmed away, and color will last longer now too. Have your hair done at Salon X and post a Selfie on Salon X’s Social Media for a monthly drawing – Best Selfie gets $100.00 gift certificate toward Salon Services!

Along with hair, Salon X is a full service salon, offering manis, pedis, make-up and expert facials (from Tianna) using state of the art products from PCA. Through Thanksgiving new Facial clients get 20% off, and existing Facial clients receive a free Peel add-on with any Facial, and ask about Tianna’s Holiday special – $30.00 mini facials!

Suzanne Mitchell is offering new clients a $20.00 shampoo/blowout through the Holidays as well!

To book an appointment at Salon X please visit their site linked below.

All photohraphs by Damien Moreau