FIRST NEW YORK ART FAIR and On to L.A.!

DISPATCH SUMMER 2001
FIRST NEW YORK ART FAIR A SUCCESS! Tom of Finland stomped into Manhattan during Gay Pride Weekend in June, and the Big Apple ain't never gonna be the same! In conjunction with the Lesbian and Gay Community Services Center, GMSMA, and the Leslie Lohman Foundation, and with the sponsorship of HX Magazine, the first Tom of Finland New York City Erotic Art Fair was a roaring success. Foundation President Durk Dehner (c) greets visitors at the entrance to the NYC Art Fair Foundation President Durk Dehner, Board Member Dan Berkowitz, and Erotic Gallery by Mail curator Volker Morlock traveled from Los Angeles to complete coordinating the event. Taking over most of the first floor and part of the second floor of the Center's temporary headquarters in the meat-packing district – was this appropriate or what? – the Foundation set up thirty-six booths in which erotic artists displayed their work to the public, as well as a small stage area in which artists sketched live nude models. The weekend started with an Artists Reception and Press Party on Friday night, attended by more than 175 guests, who sipped wine, nibbled on hors d'oeuvres, and mingled with the artists. On Saturday, the doors opened at 1:00pm, and despite occasional freak downpours which almost flooded the surrounding streets, hundreds of people came to browse and buy art. On Sunday, the day of the Pride Parade, more art-lovers trooped to the Center. All in all, more than 700 people attended the Fair, and the Foundation netted almost $8,000 – staggering numbers given that it was our first time in New York, and considering how many other events were going on around town that weekend. With the success of this first New York Fair, plans are underway for a second such weekend next year! The Foundation wants to thank all those who helped make the Fair such a success. Artist Pet Silvia was a prime moving force behind the event, and was ably supported by longtime Foundation member Tom Dennison. The staff at the Center, especially Ector Simpson, was tremendously supportive, and the volunteers – always a crucial component in any Tom of Finland event – were terrific. In particular, our thanks go to Craig Owen, who spent all day Friday, Saturday, and Sunday working the Fair – and who managed to find the solution to a balky phone line, without which we couldn't have used our credit card terminal! See you in Manhattan next year! Davien, one of the extremely picturesque life-drawing models, strikes a pose for artists
Artist Derek (l) and volunteer Aner Candelario show their support of the Foundation	Artist Belasco shows his work
TheLeslie-Lohman Foundation made a strong showing at the Fair and as always in their support of the arts and its community.	With such a great first year, we're sure next year's will be even bigger and better - don't miss it!

AND SO, ON TO L.A.!

New York may have had its first taste of a Tom of Finland Erotic Art Fair, but here in Los Angeles, we're experts at it! The Seventh Annual Erotic Art Weekend is scheduled for October 12, 13, and 14, and, as always, it promises to be fun, stimulating, and an event that shouldn't be missed.

In addition to the Fair itself, which will once again run during the day both Saturday and Sunday, we will host an Opening Reception on Friday night; a Sunday morning seminar moderated by Board member Cliff Benjamin, about putting together your own erotic art collection; and a Saturday night banquet, featuring the presentation of three awards – the Lifetime Achievement Award to Larry Flynt, the Erotic Artist Hall of Fame Award to H. R. Giger, and the Cultural Icon Award to Rob Halford of Judas Priest. At the banquet, we also plan to present the prizes to the winners of this year's Emerging Erotic Artist Contest.

We'll be sending you a postcard with more information later, but for the moment we urge those of you from out of town who plan to come, to make your reservations early. For those of you planning to fly in, may we suggest CheapTickets.com (phone number 800-377-1000), where you can often find bargain airfares. And for a list of motels in the area, call 323-769-6292.

You never know who you’ll see at a Tom of Finland event - porn stud Donnie Russo (L) showed up to see artist Rick Castro in NYC - who will be in L.A.?