| Erotic
Art Competition |
Erotic Signature |
|
Lathered Up
by Michael Breyette |
Erotic Signature announces its 2007 International search for
the World’s best erotic artworks. This marks the second
year that Erotic Signature has launched what has now become one
of the world’s largest and highest prized competitions for
erotic art. Dedicated to both artists and art enthusiasts alike,
Erotic Signature has put together a distinguished panel of judges
consisting of museum curators, academics, collectors, editors
and established masters in the field of erotic art to narrow down
all submitted entries to 200 winners.
Deadline: The Deadline for all entries
is set for December 8th, 2007.
Awards and Prizes: $10,000 in cash prizes. Plus: this competition
awards opportunities for artists to present their work to an international
audience of collectors, curators, art consultants and others who
appreciate erotic fine arts and photography.
Categories: Submissions will be accepted in: Fine art, Digital
art, Photography and Sculpture.
Jurors: Luis de la Cruz (Chief Curator: XART Foundation);
Les Barany (Designer, Curator, Archivist, and Agent of many prominent
artists, principaly artist: H.R. Giger); Bettina (Curator of Inasaja
- Galeria Ars Erotica); Hans van der Kamp (Photographer, On-line
Curator of AMEAnet); China Hamilton (Photographer); Garry Milius
(Curator - The Kinsey Institute for Research in Sex, Gender and
Reproduction); Steve Diet Goedde (Photographer); Pet Silvia (Artist,
Museum Owner - Art at Large); Damien B. (Art Gallery Director);
Timothy Dolph (Photographer); Leigh Heppell (Sculptor); Karynna
(Digital Artist - Pornotopia.com)
You can view last year's winners on-line.
Erotic Signature website.
|
|
| Paris
Art & Drawing Course |
Teacher: Sugoi |
|  Limited
to men only: Sugoi, certified teacher, gallery owner, published
author, and internationally exhibited artist will lead artists
through their own personal exploration of the figure, architecture
and Parisian landscapes.
You may work in any media from drawing to painting and even photography.
Smaller scale works are preferred as we will be walking a lot
and when in a museum, you will have very limited space.
The Manstouch Website
provides details for this interesting spring event.
March 26 - 31, 2005 — 6 days and 5 nights.
|
|
| Artist
In Print |
Tom of Finland |
|  The
December/January issue of Gorgeous Magazine, a Los Angeles based
free publication, is running an article by Dan Berkowitz and Durk
Dehner on Tom of Finland and the Foundation.
There are few artists who have altered their culture, but Tom
of Finland did. He was truly a messenger for gay rights, and for
gay men taking up their own destiny and place in society. He provided
an honor and integrity in his drawings that encouraged gay men
to be themselves. The largeness of his spirit also extended beyond
gay culture, encouraging both men and women to celebrate their
sexuality, without fear or shame. |
|
| Artist
In Print |
Rick Castro |
|  Fluxion
Editions, a new limited edition publisher, presents its first
monograph: 13 Years of Bondage: The Photography of Rick Castro.
This collection of plates by photographer/filmmaker Rick Castro
takes us on an aesthetic, cultural and social journey through
a particular aspect of contemporary sexual culture.
Rick Castro is an independent filmmaker & photographer living
and working in Los Angeles. Rick’s photographs and films
explore the wide world of fetish and the fringes of sex culture.
Castro, a monograph of his early work was published in
1990 by the Tom of Finland Foundation. Rick self-published his
own successful zine, The Bondage Book, throughout the
90’s. His films Hustler White and Plushies
& Furries have won critical acclaim and continue to screen
to enthusiastic audiences. Rick Castro’s Photographs exhibit
in galleries and institutions worldwide.
Limited edition of 3,000 copies, available at bookstores.
Rick Castro Website |
|
| Two
$5,000 Grants |
The Ultimate Eye |
|  The
Ultimate Eye Foundation announces the following grants:
One $5,000.00 grant for creative digital photography. One $5,000.00
grant for photographic figurative work.
The digital photography grant is for creativity using digital
output in photography. The images can be realistic or fanciful,
the manipulation can be subtle or extreme, but both a camera and
a computer must be used in image creation. The photographic figurative
grant is for the celebration of the human figure using any photographic
media.
Restrictions: You must be over eighteen years of age and not
a full-time student at any college or university. Entries must
be received by December 18, 2004. Decisions will be made before
January 29, 2005.
Website |
|
| ToF
Foundation Donates |
Los Angeles Contemporary
Exhibitions |
 Los
Angeles Contemporary Exhibitions is a dynamic venue that supports,
exhibits and advocates innovations in art-making.
The Tom of Finland Foundation was pleased to participate in their
25th Annual Benefit Art Auction with a contribution of a giclée
print by Tom of Finland. When the piece hit the block, the
auctioneer from Sotheby's introduced it reverently as, "A Tom
of Finland, and nothing more really needs to be said," and the
crowd replied with a round of applause!
The Foundation is honored to be part of the art community that
promotes innovate, artistic exploration and educates audiences
about the process of making art and the history contained in what
artists produce.
Los Angeles Contemporary Exhibitions
6522 Hollywood Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90028
Website |
|
| Artist
In The News |
Master Sugoi |
 Pornogami
is the art of teasing paper into representations of copulating couples
and human genitalia. Writer Lester Haines interviews Master Sugoi,
the man who wrote the book on the subject: Pornogami: a guide
to the ancient art of paper-folding for adults.
Sugoi has been creating art since the age of 2. He is considered
an Origami Master, and has studied painting and drawing while living
in Japan and honed much of his style while living in Egypt. He is
a NJ Certified art teacher with many years of experience teaching
in the USA and abroad. He founded the Firehouse Gallery of Bordentown
in 1995 and continues to paint, draw, sculpt, photograph, compose
for piano, write poetry and much more.
Update: Master Sugoi will be on national radio
Wednesday, October 20th, 2004 at 8.15 p.m. (Eastern time) in an
interview about his book. Check out the Derek and Romaine show
on. Sirius Radio, Channel 149 - OUT Q Station. It's also accessible
streaming
on the web.
The
Register interview with Master Sugoi by Lester Haines.
Master Sugoi's Website
|
|
| ToF
Foundation Donates |
Gay & Lesbian
Elder Housing |
 3rd
Annual Garden Party
Sunday, October 10th, 2 - 6 PM.
Breaking Ground this fall on the 104-unit project. Gay & Lesbian
Elder Housing (GLEH) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to building
and operating high-quality, affordable residential communities which
provide a safe nurturing environment that supports the well-being
of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender older adults. The Tom
of Finland Foundation is donating a giclée
print to the silent auction at the Garden Party.
Location: Home of David Cooley, owner of the Abbey, in Los Angeles,
CA.
Details: www.glehc.org
|
|
| Artist
In Print |
Brad Rader |
 Brad
Rader -- who's secret identity is Flaming
Artist -- is mentioned in the Culture section of the July 20,
2004 issue of The Advocate in an article by Andy Mangels
entitled Comic Book Heroes.
The article highlights San Diego's Comic-Con International where
a number of out artists will be attending. |
|
| Artist
In Print |
Tom of Finland |
 Tom
of Finland - The Art of Pleasure has gone into it's third printing
and is expected to be appearing on book shelves July 22, 2004.
Until Taschen published the retrospective volume on this master
illustrator’s work, his drawings had been relegated to the walls
of gay bars and adult shops. The first publication of this book
helped Tom’s influence as an artist extend far beyond the gay
scene. Now this masterwork is finally being made available again,
in a more compact format, for any and all to enjoy. |
|
| Foundation
in the News |
New York Erotic Art
Weekend |
|
| Foundation
in the News |
Peter S. Reed Foundation |
| The Tom of Finland Foundation
has received a grant from the Peter S. Reed Foundation. These monies
will be used exclusively for the Tom of Finland drawing preservation
project. |
|
| Artist
in the News |
Tom of Finland |
 |
| Image: Tom of Finland |
TOM OF FINLAND AT THE MUSEUM OF MODERN ART
Five works by Tom of Finland have been purchased by the Judith Rothschild
Foundation, to be included in a collection of 1,500 significant
drawings being compiled by the Rothschild Foundation, to be gifted
to the Museum of Modern Art (MOMA) in New York in 2006.
Tom (Touko Laaksonen) was born in a small village in Finland, first
came to public attention in 1956, when Physique Pictorial magazine
began to publish his drawings. In the ensuing years, his hyper-masculine
images of men, often in explicitly erotic situations with other
men, achieved the status of icons in the gay male community. His
work is credited by scholars with significantly influencing the
way the culture viewed gay men, as well as how gay men viewed themselves.
Tom became well-known for his meticulously detailed pencil drawings,
many of which are now in private collections. Recently, his rough
sketches have become increasingly popular among sophisticated collectors.
The Rothschild acquisition includes two finished drawings and four
sketches, and ranges from simple portraits to sexually explicit
group images.
Though Tom's work has been acquired for the permanent collections
of a number of museums - including the Los Angeles County Museum
of Art, the San Francisco Museum of Contemporary Art, and the Kiasma,
Finland's Museum of Contemporary Art - the Rothschild purchase
is different, according to Cliff Benjamin, director of The Western
Project, the gallery which represents Tom's work. "This will cause
a shift in perspective," he said. "The inclusion of Tom of Finland
in this collection means he will no longer be an 'outsider' but
will rather be recognized for what he was: one of the historically
significant artists of the twentieth century."
Durk Dehner, co-founder, with Tom, of The Tom of Finland Foundation,
and currently its director, rejoices at the news. "I think it's
timely that this is happening as the Foundation approaches its twentieth
anniversary," he said. "My only regret is that Tom didn't live long
enough to see his 'dirty pictures,' as he used to call them, take
their rightful place among the foremost art works of his time."
|
|
| Image
of the Year 2004 |
Tom of
Finland Foundation |
| 
The Tom of Finland Foundation has selected this piece of art by
their namesake artist, TOM OF FINLAND, as the image to represent
the Foundation in print during the 2004 calendar year. It will
be shown at the New York City and Los Angeles Erotic Art Weekends
and is being auctioned off to the highest bidder!
Click here
to learn more.
Click here to learn about
our 2005 image of the year. |
|
| Friend
Departed |
Armando
Ramirez |
| Our Drawing Workshop coordinator
and dear friend Joe Hilton, has lost his partner of many years.
Armando Ramirez passed away on Wednesday, March 24th at 4:30 pm
at home in Joe's arms. Armando was going through chemo for a long
illness and didn't feel well. Joe was ready to take him to the
hospital when he called out Joe's name. He looked into Joe's eyes
and was gone.
He was buried at Hollywood Forever. Joe will always miss him and
our hearts go out to him. The Foundation will frame a piece of
art from its Permanent Collection in memory of Armando. |
|
| Artist
On TV |
Philip
Hitchcock |
|  Artist
Philip Hitchcock has been commissioned by the producers at Fox
TV to create 17 body sculptures of women chosen to undergo "full
life makeovers" in the upcoming prime time reality show "The
Swans". The 17 women will be bodycast by Hitchcock before
they receive plastic surgery, fitness training, psychotherapy
and life counseling.
When the women have emerged as "Swans," they will receive the
sculpture of their former selves during the climactic, on camera
"reveal." They will be given a choice to keep the sculpture as
a reminder of who they used to be, or to destroy it with a sledge
hammer. The Foundation, of course, hopes they don't destroy Philip's
art!
Update: Premiers Wednesday, April 7. Regular time slot
starts Monday, April 12, 9 PM, 8 PM
central.
More info at: www.fox.com/swan/
and www.galanent.com/f_current.html |
|
| Foundation
in the News |
Durk
Dehner |
| Reuter's Richard Chang reports
that erotica is moving mainstream. It's not just titillation, but
can be financially rewarding as well.
"We're moving into a renaissance in that the number of artists
producing erotica is growing," said Durk Dehner, co-founder
and director of the Tom of Finland Foundation in Los Angeles"
"We're on the edge of where erotic works will probably start
increasing at faster rates," Dehner said, noting they are
now perceived as fine art. "If people can feel that something
is held in high regard, they're more comfortable with it."
For the full Saturday, Feb. 14, 2004 article, visit the Reuters
website at:
http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=topNews&storyID=4360044 |
|
| Artist
Signing |
John
Waters |
 March
1, 2004 at Book
Soup, 8818 Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood, CA 90069 · 310.659.3110
Cinema icon -- and previous winner of the Foundation's Artist
Hall of Fame award -- John Waters returns with another fine
art collection, his own! Published to coincide with the first
major exhibition of his singular visual work at the New Museum
of Contemporary Art in New York, Change of Life surveys
Waters’ photography from the past decade as well as images from
never-before-seen early underground films, sketchbooks and source
material. Featuring essays by Gary Indiana and an interview with
Waters by film director Todd Solondz, Change of Life will
introduce fans of Hairspray, Pecker and Pink Flamingos
to John Waters the photographer. Mr. Waters will sign customer
memorabilia in addition to this latest gem. |
|
| Artist
Reviewed |
Tom of
Finland |
|  Artnet's
Mary Anna Pomonis reviews Western
Project's showing: In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida, Baby.
Among the 16 artists on display in this Los Angeles exhibit
is Tom of Finland.
"In a typical work, a mustachioed man stands in motorcycle
gear at parade rest with arms crossed, winking at us from under
his hat, proudly displaying his beauty." |
|
| Artist Departed |
Helmut
Newton |
|  We
are saddened to announce the passing of artist Helmut Newton on
January 23, 2003. It is the wish of June Newton to hold the book
launch as planned in memory of her husband. June Newton's book
signing and exhibition "Alice in Hollywood" will be
held on Sunday, February 8, 2004 from 11 AM to 1 PM at Taschen
Bookstore, 354 N. Beverly Drive, Beverly Hills, CA 90210. (310.274.4300)
|
|
| Foundation
Wins "Best Art & Artist Site" Award |
Cybersocket |
|  The
Tom of Finland Foundation was awarded the 4th Annual
Cybersocket Web Award for "Best Art & Artist Site".
Websites are nominated on the basis of how well they fulfill their
advertised missions -- and for their usefulness, design, and uniqueness.
Web surfers vote for their favorite sites in 30 categories.
The Foundation wishes to express its gratitude to Cybersocket
and the many voters that made this award possible. This honor
will bring an expanded awareness of the Foundation, helping us
in our goal of protecting, promoting and preserving the erotic
arts. |
|
| Benefit
Sale: The Aloha Collection |
Gay Art
Gallery |
| The Gay
Art Gallery is presenting artwork for sale for the benefit
of a Hawaiian Gay non-profit organization. These come from the
collection of Joseph Bean and includes erotic works from ten artists
created from the 1970s to 2000. |
|
| Artist In Print |
Jeff
Palmer |
| Jeff Palmer's second book,
Temptation, arrived in customs in late October '03 and
should be available soon. His first book, Sensual Men,
sold out both printings and is no longer available. Also available
is his 2004 calendar. For details, visit his website. |
|
| Artist In Print |
Philip
Hitchcock |
| Featured in the current issue
(#901) of The
Advocate, Sculptor Hitchcock revels in the masculine torso
to create his unique sculptures. |
|
| Pet Silva & Tammey Stubbs |
Wedding |
| On October 12, 2003, Artist
Pet Silvia and Art@Large Gallery owner Tammey Stubbs were wed
in a ceremony at the Museum of Sex that sought to shock and entertain
as much as it joined the two in holy matrimony. For the details,
check The
Village Voice article. |
|
| Press
Release |
Cultural
Icon Award |
| Clive Barker is awarded the
Tom of Finland Foundation's Cultural Icon Award for 2003! More
info here. |
|
| Artist
In Print |
Ted Fusby |
|
| Open Call For Artists & Performers |
Minneapolis,
MN |
| ArTrujillo Multicultural Studios
& Gallery is planning an erotica art event that is scheduled
for October 4 - 26, 2003. They are looking for artists, performers,
vendors and sponsors to join in. More info here. |
|
| Assist Us With Our Press Release
List |
Foundation |
|
| Salon Night (July
19, 2003) |
Foundation
Event |
| A quick look at our second
evening Salon. |
|
| DVD Review |
Tom of
Finland |
|
| Artist Departed |
Frances
Turner |
|
| "For most gay men, the erotic
gaze focuses at the groin or upwards, but artist Pedro Santanilla,
a.k.a. Palanca, goes straight to the heart and sole of the
matter -- he's a foot man." That's the start of Lawrence
Schubert's revealing interview with one of Foundation's favorite
"footmen". If you found Al Capp's Li'l Abner hunky,
this is one artist you should investigate.
September 2003 issue of Honcho.
Artist's Website. |
|
| Artist
In Print |
Philip
Hitchcock |
| In a "revealing" tell all (and
show all!) Men Magazine exclusive, artist Philip Hitchcock bares
more than his soul as he discusses his life, his art, and his upcoming
Los Angeles exhibition: MYTH.
August 2003 issue of Men
Magazine.
Artist's Website. |
|
| Artist
In Print |
Marc
DeBauch |
| Marc's early influence came from
Quantance, Tom of Finland and The Hun. Now he's grown a style of
his own. Lawrence Schubert interviews this man from the Land of
10,000 Lakes.
August 2003 issue of Honcho.
Artist's Website. |
|
