DISPATCH SUMMER 2001

THE ONES THAT GOT AWAY...

These works were recently sold by the Mark Moore Gallery located in Bergamot Station in Santa Monica, the official representative for Tom's work. For information on other work for sale contact Cliff Benjamin at 310-453-3031.

erotic art news
Untitled, 1966, Graphite on paper, 8 3/4 X 12 1/4 inches

erotic art news
Untitled, c.1980, Graphite on paper, 16 x 11 1/4 inches


EMERGING EROTIC ARTIST
CONTEST UPDATE

The Fifth Emerging Erotic Artists Contest will soon be closing: the deadline has been extended until August 15, to enable more contestants to enter. We changed a key requirement this year, asking artists to send in copies of their work in an 8.5x11 format, rather than submitting originals. By having the artists submit photographs of their art, we not only reduced the workload of our volunteer support staff – which had been responsible for photographing all the originals in previous contests – but we also leveled the playing field somewhat, by giving the contestants themselves control of what their work looked like for the judges.

And speaking of judges, that phase of the contest will soon begin. The Foundation sends each judge a book containing all the entries. Contestants are anonymous, and the judges are asked to score each work with a number between 1 and 10. The contestants with the highest total numbers are declared the winners in each category – single figure, multiple figure, fantasy/fetish, and photography. In addition, the entrant with the highest score overall will be named the Grand Prize Winner.

The main goals of the Contest are to give amateur artists an opportunity to have their works viewed and judged by professionals in the field, and to provide the publicity (and ego stroking) for the winners, to assist them with pursuing their artistic dreams. In previous newsletters, several artists have written about how winning the contest had very powerful, positive effects on their careers. We look forward to bringing you more such stories.

erotic art newserotic art news
The Contest categories reward a great range of media and styles, such as this sculpture by Douglas Holquist (L) and drawing by Squire from the 1999 Contest

In an upcoming Dispatch, you will see all the winners, and we will reveal the identities of this year's judges. We also plan to post all the entries and winners on our website once the vote tallying is completed. In the meantime: Good luck to all the contestants!


erotic art newsHETERO-EROTIC ART FORUM
We have now been able to reschedule this Forum. It is booked for Saturday, August 25, from 1-5pm. We would like to have as many artists as possible whose work revolves around women, or men and women together. The purpose of this get-together is to discuss ways of gearing Foundation events to include their clientele, as well as bringing more public attention to the work they are creating – for example, through special Foundation events. We want to help! So please RSVP and let us know you want to be a contributor to the Forum.

Many artists such as photgrapher John Aigner create erotic work with both male and female figures


erotic art newsDONATIONS THIS QUARTER

The Foundation wishes to thank all those who made significant contributions in the past few months, including Michael-John Horn for his gift of $1,500.00; the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, who donated $230.00; and the artist Pet Silvia of New York, who donated his 1997 painting “Blue Dot” (RIGHT) into the Permanent Collection.

We would also like to announce that a triptych was donated by the artist Dark Idol, who traveled from Argentina to deliver his work. It has been accepted into the Permanent Collection.

 


TOM OF FINLAND IN BOSTON
IT AIN’T NO TEA PARTY

A few newsletters back, we put the word out that if anyone was interested in doing a fundraiser in his home town – in a bar, a gallery, or at home – that the Foundation was ready and willing to help make it happen. Well, one of our members took us up on the offer – Vincent Turner of Boston, Massachusetts. He signed up his good friend Barry Waldman to assist him, and they were off and running.

The Foundation mailed invitations, sent out press releases, printed flyers, and sent support material to make the evening work. The evening included a slide presentation, a silent auction, a screening of Daddy and the Muscle Academy, and a short, personal lecture by Vincent.

With our hosts picking up the cost of the beverages and hors d'oeuvres, the result was that the Foundation netted around $430. Though it was a small group in attendance, there was strong support to do it again next year, and to get more interested parties there.

The Foundation's board was delighted with the success of the event, and felt it was a very important first step for Boston in expanding the message of the Foundation and getting more people interested in supporting the erotic arts. The Boston experience also helped the Foundation create a “blueprint” for other such fundraising and public relations events in other towns around the globe.

So how about you: want to do one in your hometown...? Give us a call!


ANIMATION FORUM
Well, we have booked the date for the Animation Forum here at the Foundation. It is now officially scheduled for Saturday September 29, from 1-5pm. We shall be sending out invites to those who indicated that they were interested in attending. The Forum is geared to animators and investors interested in working on, or contributing to, a Tom of Finland animation project. Call us if you are, or if you know of someone we should invite.


BOARD CHANGES AT FOUNDATION

We are pleased to welcome two new members to the Foundation's Board of Directors. Doug Bedard, a Los Angeles attorney, who also served as Mr. Faultline Leather 2000, has joined the Board, as has Cliff Benjamin, of the Mark Moore Gallery in Santa Monica, which represents Tom of Finland in the art world.

Joining our Honorary Advisory Board is Mr. Bungaku Ito of Tokyo, the publisher of Barazoku Magazine, now celebrating its thirtieth anniversary.

After serving many years on the Board, Mike Goldie has resigned. We're sorry to see him go, but knowing Mike, we'll still see him at Foundation events! Thanks for all your years of service, and enjoy the beach!


TOM’S COCKTAIL PARTY IN JUNE
On Friday evening of LA Gay Pride Weekend, the Tom of Finland House in Echo Park was the site of what we hope will become a yearly institution: Tom's Cocktail Party. This gathering is meant to honor those Foundation members who have contributed $100 (Seaman level) or more during the membership year. Many of our contributors are out of the L.A. area – indeed, many are out of the United States – but we felt that Gay Pride Weekend was a fitting time for such an event, since many people come to L.A. to visit friends or for the festivities.

For this first party, approximately thirty contributors mingled over drinks and canapés, and took tours of the house to view the art on exhibition from the Permanent Collection.

Next January, we will hold the first of another yearly ritual: Tom's Dinner Party. This event, which will honor members who contribute at the Commander level ($250) or above, will also be held at the house, and will feature drinks and a dinner of Tom's favorite recipes. If you want to be included, increase your contribution now, and you'll be on the guest list come January!


DISPATCH SUMMER 2001
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