| MORE FOR ARTISTS
A new, low-cost membership to the Foundation now exists for artists at just $25 ($35 for those living outside of the United States or Canada). If you haven’t “registered” with the Foundation by previously submitting samples of your artwork, we ask that you submit at least three laser copies, photographs, or other samples of your work. Be sure to include your “artist name” and a few brief biographical details, such as where you hail from, date of birth, and any formal training. The Tom of Finland Foundation is devoted to erotic artists and their art. Let your friends and patrons know more about the Foundation and encourage them to join as well. MORE
FOR ART LOVERS SALON
NIGHT?
If
you are interested in participating in this kind of event, contact the
Foundation at 213-250-1685 or Administration@TomOfFinlandFoundation.Org
and we’ll take a “nose count.” THE FOUNDATION THANKS...
Shimo
Himo, Celso Junior, Palanca, Teddy of Paris, Ross Johnston, Licker,
Windon QRXZ Boy, Art by Andy, John-John Jesse, Pet Silva, Sultan, Nigel
Kent, the Leslie-Lohman Foundation, William D. De Boves, Dietmar Koenig,
and a work donated by the Marcello estate. SEAMAN AND COMMANDER DINNER The event: As a volunteer for the Tom of Finland Foundation, I looked forward to helping out at the recent Seaman and Commander party. Everyone attending had a keen interest in the erotic arts, which generates a warm camaraderie you can feel as soon as you enter. Art Stafford and Louis Jay unveil a contribution from Ross Johnston (right). Photo credit: Sharp. All of us anticipated the public debut of many recent additions to the Permanent Collection. I did not notice any disappointment. The erotic themes varied from gentle to rough. A few focused on women. The Foundation house doubles as a gallery, so there were hundreds of additional works on display – most of which will be go into storage to make room for new ones this autumn. In addition to enjoying the
artwork, this was also a great opportunity to talk with some of the
artists in a relaxed atmosphere. That is my favorite reward for helping
the Foundation. Bob Seidemann, Sean Platter, Palanca, and Sultan
were there. Windon QRXZ Boy showed a videotaped performance called
“A Walk through the Mural.” (Yes, it showed him walking on a mural.)
Ross Johnston had a formal unveiling of two of his new donations
to the Collection. Celso Junior and David Crocker also
showed new works, but were unable to attend. That night, a new program was introduced: “Be Part of the Art.” Most of the artwork the Foundation receives is not framed. To display most flat artwork to the general public, it needs a frame for basic protection and to present it at its best. This new program allows people to “adopt” a piece of art by supporting its framing costs. If the donor wants credit for helping this project, the Foundation will be more than happy to publicly post it on the wall card that accompanies each piece—or keep the identity secret. Either way, we send a certificate that includes a picture of your “baby” as a remembrance for your enjoyment—as well as a receipt for tax purposes. All donations are tax deductible. This project has been extended to the Foundation’s website. You can already see some great art on the website, and we will be adding even more! The many ways to contribute: There are various ways to assist the Foundation. Some people contribute money, which is always needed and welcome as it is the life’s blood that keeps the Foundation alive. Donations, art sales, and other fundraising activities keep the ship afloat. Without such generosity, there wouldn’t be a Tom of Finland Foundation. Some people can contribute
time and talents. This is the heartbeat of the Foundation. That night
I was taking photographs. Others were serving food and drinks. Many
work on the Dispatch, other parties, the Art Crawl, and the dozens of
projects it takes to keep the Foundation moving forward. On “Archive
Sundays,” twice a month, we work on sorting and documenting the massive
collection that is the core of the Foundation’s effort to save, catalog,
and preserve the thousands of images and original pieces of art. I have found numerous rewards as a volunteer. I have seen more original erotic art than most people see in a lifetime — and thousands of copies and reproductions. I have also met exceptional people and made great new friends. There is a lot of enjoyment mixed in the work. Most important, though, is the fulfillment that arises from aiding this one-of-a-kind organization. No other institution in the
world does what the Tom of Finland Foundation does. Created to preserve
Tom’s art, its mission quickly evolved to include other gay art, finally
expanding to include all expressions of erotic art. Knowing that future
generations will be able to view and enjoy this art made the evening
more than just a thank-you to its members and volunteers. It was an
exclamation point on a series of very satisfying experiences. — Louis Jay THE
FETISH BALL The
Foundation hosted seven fetish photographers this past June with an
exhibition of their works for one night only. Dave Naz, Christine
Kessler, Gary & Pierre Silva, Steven Diet Goedde, Ben Hoffman, Miguel
Angel Reyes, and Reno Larson were each provided with a room
dedicated to exhibiting their works, plus several common rooms for
group exhibitions.
The
affair was attended by several hundred fetish enthusiasts who were
given an opportunity to experience the works of the guest artists,
and to view the Foundation’s permanent collection of over 150 works
on exhibit. The
evening’s music was provided by David TG from Torture Gardens,
a London based DJ group. Our volunteers did a remarkable job of hosting
our visitors and guest artists, and the Foundation was pleased to
do outreach to an ever-expanding audience in the area of the erotic
arts. DISPATCH
CREDITS |
