TOM  OF  FINLAND  FOUNDATION

Tip's of the Hat and Odds & Ends:

Just in case you missed the notice on our Fair page — and are in Los Angeles on Wednesday, March 23 — TOM is going T-shirt! Join SOLD OUT Clothing and the Foundation for a pre-Fair party event at Micky's. Show time is 11:00 PM. Hope to see you! Check the details on our Fair page.

Wim Griffith has notifed us that one of his paintings was copied and sold on eBay. He notes that several other gay artists that are displayed on the Foundation website are also being copied and sold by this dealer. Wim suggests: Find your painting and copy the item #. Go to the bottom of EBay’s home page and click on Policies. Click on How do I report a listing violation? Click on Report listing. Enter the item # and continue. If enough artists report this fraud the seller will be dropped from EBay.

Midwest Leather Calendar Released
(Benefitting The Foundation)

Philip Hitchcock is at it again, working to raise more funds for the Tom of Finland Foundation.

This time he's collaborating with photographer Shannen Green — on a calendar that can usefully hang on your wall until June 2012. Proceeds from the sale of the calendar benefit Tom of Finland Foundation and the Mr. Midwest Leather Travel Fund. This sepia toned, 40-page calendar sells for $24.95.

Philip recently held a benefit auction of some of his renowned sculptures for the Foundation and Growing American Youth.

To order by credit card, email Philip Hitchcock or call 314.664.6644.

National Portrait Gallery Removed Important Gay Work

The National Portrait Gallery removed an important video work, Fire In My Belly, by the artist David Wojnarowicz with audio by Diamanda Galas from it’s exhibition about gay and lesbian identity in the US called Hide/Seek: Difference and Desire in American Portraiture. The exhibit ran from October 30, 2010 through February 13, 2011.

The video may be difficult to watch, but it deals with important issues, unpleasant subjects, and the reality of AIDS. Good art often pushes boundaries and makes people uncomfortable, and this video is a perfect example of this.

Wojnarowicz was an amazing artist who made astounding work with an urgency and a purpose. He inspired an entire generation of gay artists. Diamanda Galas is also an important musician whose work has addressed issues such as gay rights, AIDS, and genocide. To censor these important artists is totally unacceptable.

The Catholic League and right-wing politicians called for his video to be removed, so you can see the ugly specter of the culture wars rearing its head again. The museum’s director, Martin Sullivan caved to their demands. The exhibition was not funded with public dollars and the removal of the video is censorship pure and simple. The National Portrait Gallery should retain its independence and ability to exhibit shows that represent the identities of all Americans, not just the dominant culture, or views only palatable to right-wing conservatives.

Watch the Video

And see what the New York Times has to say.

Further updates on Tom's Blog.

Tom Images on TV

TOM OF FINLAND (Finnish, 1920 – 1991),
Untitled, 1988, Color pencil on paper
ToFF #88.04, ©2010 Tom of Finland Foundation

Tom's artwork appears in Logo's TV series A-List: New York. Watch the Mike Ruiz segment “ToF Transformations Based on TOM Characters” that starts about 13 minutes into the show.

Ruiz says, “Gay men have defined their aesthetic as a result of Tom of Finland.”

We couldn't agree more!

View this show (season 1, episode 8,) on Logo's Website and find other interesting gay oriented programming there. NOTE: Not all programs are available outside of the United States.

For A Look At The Entire Year, Visit The
F O U N D A T I O N     C A L E N D A R

the dispatch e-news is free and open to everyone interested in the foundation.

to change your subscription, visit here.

members of the press are especially invited to sign up for our press releases.