G.L.E.H. (Gay & Lesbian Elder Housing) is a 104 unit building located in Hollywood that’s mission is to improve the life experience of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender seniors by developing affordable housing. ( www.gleh.org ) My goal is to help them purchase a new email/computer station for their over 110 current residents. 

Please join me for a fundraiser with Door Prizes ($5 suggested donation), Silent Auction with artwork and Boots-to-Balls Raffle as we raise monies to purchase a new computer area for the residents.  -EAGLE LA MR. LEATHER 2013

Auction items include artwork by
TOM OF FINLAND, DRUB and GEORGE QUAINTANCE

If you can’t make it to the run,
please join us at Pistons for the BBQ, Auction and Party at 3p.

RICHARD SAWDON SMITH, Listening to Myself: Closed, 2002,
C-type print, 24″ x 20″

As I looked at the works I’d chosen, it was obvious that one distinct part of my sensibility had come into play—a part I’ll call American noir. I borrow this term from film—as in film noir–of course, which refers to a genre of hardboiled American crime dramas of the 1940s and 50s shot in a German Expressionist-derived style of black-and-white cinematography. (Key examples include the films adapted from Raymond Chandler’s novels such as The Big Sleep, Farewell My Lovely and The Long Goodbeye.) They are simultaneously—and paradoxically—highly subjective but emotionally removed. Typically described as “stylized (melo)dramas that emphasize cynical attitudes and sexual motivations,” they are above all else—and this is unusual in visual art—highly narrative.

VisualAIDS – American Noir: Into a Dark Past

8th May is TOM’s birthday. EVERY 8th May from here on - all over the globe – friends and fans of TOM, his art and his messages should come together for a toast, a party – why not a full-on celebration? Let’s make it an official TOM day!

TOM’s cake at TOM House, 2013

TOM really deserves hero status for all he gave to our culture and foremost what he gave to developing Homosexuals, starting at a time when we had no positive role models with which to identify.

Alli Ruth, LA Band of Brothers, LA Mr. Leather 2013, friends and family at TOM’s party, 2013.

We’ll raise a glass, enjoy ourselves and be sexy with absolutely no shame or guilt – TOM style!

TOM OF FINLAND (Touko Laaksonen, Finnish, 1920 – 1991), Untitled, c. 1946, Gouache on paper, 10.94” x 8.00”, Tom of Finland Foundation Permanent Collection #46.05, © Tom of Finland Foundation

Tom kept this work in his private collection
till the creation of his foundation where it now resides.

Touko Laaksonen inherited Beauty from his parents,
his upbringing steeped in Æsthetics.
He matured into an Artist who created
more than one masterwork yet
never had any formal Art training.
Schooled at the piano, self-taught with a pencil.
The consummate Homosexual.

From Tom of Finland – Life and Work of a Gay Hero

Tom of Finland’s real name is Touko –
because he was born 8th May 1920,
on the south coast of Finland,
and May in Finnish is “Toukokuu”.

Thank you to Jay Jorgensen for this perfect picture above of
Jay Lawton doing what he loved. And what we loved him for.

JAY R. LAWTON
20TH JULY 1961 – 23RD APRIL 2013

Jay Lawton was always knowing. He certainly knew what he wanted. It was very rewarding watching him mature as a photographer, not always an easy path he chose.

Jay came to Tom of Finland Foundation eager. He helped by documenting thousands of objects with his camera. He recorded our events as eventful. He acquired a quiet confidence that he took with him to all other kinds of events but he was adopted by the Leather community. His reputation was built on earnestness and dignity (and always being on time!).

Jay knew the right thing to do. He cared for his mother, not always something easy. He gave more than few of us think we can afford.  He asked for what was fair – and right. He learned the right way to shoot and learned how to get the shots he wanted. All the lessons he learned as he was learning were not easy ones. He was sometimes discouraged but incapable of bitterness.

Jay was thoughtful and wise and we wish he was around so he could accomplish all he wanted. We are grateful for every moment we got to spend together and will miss that knowing grin…

-TOM’s Foundation

We invite you to view this gallery to revisit Jay Lawton’s work
(and to see just a few of his thousands of friends).

Let’s get together to roast our dear friend
with a open mic for those with a 90 second speech.

MSC Finland – TOM’s Club – is a fetish club for leather, rubber and biker guys.
MSC is a member of ECMC (European Confederation of Motorcycle Clubs).

Nude Drawing Workshop

Featuring Johnathan

Our monthly workshop – Sunday, 1-4p

$25 suggested donation at the door.
Scholarship funds available: No one will be turned away for a lack of money.

Reservations required, please contact our Drawing Workshop coordinator:
Miguel Angel Reyes @ 323.786.0106

Spinning the tunes: DJ RocketManLA, with over 90,000 songs!
Refreshments served.

TOM House
(Echo Park)

Sharp and Francesco. Photos by Miguel Reyes.

On behalf of the SF AIDS Foundation and LGBT I’d like to thank the Tom of Finland visitors for your kind and generous donations. With your generosity and support I have reached my goal of $5,000.00 and plus. 

All the artwork that was done in the drawing workshop was sold with proceeds going to the AIDS/Lifecycle.

A huge THANK YOU to everybody who came to my fundraiser – I enjoyed seeing you. Thank you for your generosity, time and good wishes. Special thanks goes to Miguel Angel Reyes for putting together this AIDS/LifeCycle event and S. R. Sharp and Durk Dehner of Tom of Finland Foundation for hosting!!!

Also, a big thank you to Terry Grand, Roger Warnix, Thomas Rogillio, Jim Patrone for supporting me on this amazing journey. It’s a pleasure to have met you and I am looking forward to more fun times. 

THANK YOU ALL – YOU ALL ROCK HARD !!!

Francesco Guglielmino