Leatherati

Of Myth and Mortals

Check out this impressive slideshow from Philip Hitchcock's (Mr Midwest Leather 2012) recent exhibit at the Leather Archives and Museum.

After the jump.

Sometimes You Just Gotta Share

News to Abuse: A Room of Her Own - Larry Townsend Collection - Vern Stewart

A Room of Her Own

In May 2011, the LA&M WLHP opened "A Room of Her Own" to a packed gallery.  Curator Dr. Alex Warner assembled the previous year's WLHP collection along with the existing Women's collection at the LA&M to create the exhibit. WLHP co-founder Sarah Humble said "A Room of Her Own is a milestone for the LA&M Women's Leather History Project.  The exhibit displays the importance of women's history, stories and contributions to the leather community."  The exhibit is on display through 2013 at the museum in Chicago and several resources from the exhibition have been made available through the museum's website. 

Art and Ephemera from the Collection of Larry Townsend

The collection opens on February 3, 2012 and runs untill March 30 at the Center for Sex and Culture, 1349 Mission Street in San Francisco, CA.  And be sure to mark your calendar for the opening reception on Friday, February 3 from 6 - 9 PM at the Center.

Larry Townsend was a pivotal figure in the development of leather culture as we know it. What many do not know is that he was also a collector of art. The Center for Sex and Culture is extremely proud to present a selection of work from his collection. The exhibit includes illustrations by Macbeth, Olaf, Sean, Orsen, Russ, Dennis, Zane, DP, and others. This work spans a wide range of what's thought of as the classical period of gay SM illustration work; the period in which almost no artists used their real full names when doing this sort of work. There are cops and cowboys and Romans and leathermen playing in almost every way imaginable. The clear theme that runs through Townsend's collection is that of unrestrained perverted joy. The Center will also be showing a selection of Townsend's personal ephemera including toys, leathers, and original manuscripts. 

Fireside Chat with Vern Stewart

Inside Leather History, A Fireside Chat will showcase in a live-on-stage interview Mr Vern Stewart on Saturday April 28th, 2012 during CLAW.  Vern will discuss his 50 years in the community and his volume of work.  Following the formal interview the floor will open for audience questions.  See CLAW's run book for place and time.  Come one, come all!  

More info on the CLAW website

 

Of Myths and Mortals

Challenging. Alluring. Rock Hard. The life-size male erotic figures of Philip Hitchcock merge fantasy and reality to create powerful sculptural forms, evoking themes of heroism and human frailty. Focusing on ancient mythology from different cultures, Hitchcock creates contemporary representations of iconic deities whose grandeur is humanized by their corporeal sensuality. The hyper-realistic forms, which are created from multiple castings of live models, are layered and embellished with accoutrements. The work is a metaphor for the human condition one decade into the 21st century: It presents a core of realism surrounded by the more unnerving images we wish the world to notice and judge. Of this body of work Dr. William Whittington, Assistant Chair of Critical Studies at University of Southern California writes: "(Hitchcock's) aesthetic presents idealized castings of the human figure, which are powerful enough alone, yet he retrofits these bodies, infusing them with technology, eroticism, and discourses on pain and pleasure. At the site of this fusion, the heroic figure transforms, activating new interpretations."  

Interview with Carolyn Kelly - Producer "Rapture"

The stunning fashion show at Northbound Leather's Rapture was produced by Carolyn Kelly.  In this interview with Leatherati North correspondent JJ Deogracias, she talks about the genesis of, and reaction to, the multi-faceted extravaganza.

Check it out here!

LA&M Announces New Traveling Exhibit

On October 6, 2011 at the Pride Center in Ft. Lauderdale, the LA&M, in partnership with LeatherWerks, debuted their latest exhibit specifically designed to tour the country, The Art of Drummer: New Outlines in Masculinity. The exhibit features numerous original works from such artists as Bill Ward, Nigel Kent, Cavelo, and Etienne.

With the creation of this collection, the Archives now has an exhibit that can be sent to spaces such as museums and community centers across the country for display for an extended period of time. Planners and curators can simply contact the Leather Archives & Museum and arrange for the framed and labeled works to be sent to the location, ready to unpack, hang, and display. 

"A great deal of care was given to the selection and research for these images," said Chester Munro, Director of Project Management at the LA&M and co-curator of the exhibit with Executive Director Rick Storer. "After an thorough exploration of our extensive art collection, we feel we've assembled work from a distinct and diverse group of artists, and that we will now be able to share many of these pieces with groups and organizations outside of Chicago made the effort  more than worth it." 

Drummer Magazine, published from 1975 to 1999, was the premiere magazine for those men in the kink and fetish world who did not see themselves or their sex lives reflected in the erotic gay publishing world at that time.

The exhibit will be back at the Archives and available for booking in 2012. To speak to someone about booking the exhibit for your space/event, contact us at archives@leatherarchives.org.

 

Interview with KD of Salacious Magazine

In a day when everything seems to be all-digital it's refreshing to actually hold a hand-crafted bit of queer fabulousness in your hands.  Salacious Magazine delivers that and more!

We had a chance to talk with KD, founder and Editor of Salacious Magazine (and International Ms Bootblack 2011), about the publication's genesis and upcoming issue dedicated to the mind-blowing perversions fond in Sci Fi.

Check out all three parts of this great interview after the jump

News to Abuse: Leather Life - Life Group LA - Fetish Art

Leather Life

One of our favorite op/ed writers is back in ink (or digital I guess).  Steve Lenius' Leather Life column is now available in Lavender Magazine.  Check out his recent article on Pride and Humility after the jump.

Dem Bears!

Joe Manetti (Mr. International Daddy Bear 2009) is back in LA and hosted a fundraiser for The Life Group LA.

Thanks to the staff at the Eagle LA and the volunteer work of the West Hollywood Cheerleaders, the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, and others they were able to raise nearly $1,000 in a few short hours on Saturday night, June 4th, 2011! Shouts out to Chi Chi LaRue for donating the porn DVDs, Arturo Quitevis for donating the WET lube gift baskets, and Empress Martini Moore of the Imperial Court of Los Angeles & Hollywood for raffle prizes.

Fetish Art

There's a new online community for fetish models, photographers, artists & art lovers at www.fetishcreatives.com 

The site includes a social network, business network & showcase portfolios.

All free, all welcome :)

 

Los Angeles Erotic Art Fair Weekend

LA Erotic Art Fair Gives LGBT Community a Chance to Say Thanks

The 16th Annual West Hollywood - Los Angeles Erotic Art Fair take place March 25 - 27, 2011.

The Tom of Finland Foundation’s festival gives members of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender community an opportunity to come together, meet and say thank you to the artists that represent them and their culture.

Attendance at this festival contributes to some very essential elements of what it is to be Gay. First of all, you are telling your own community’s artists that they matter – that their work matters. You encourage artists to keep developing and sharing what they see. Second, you will cultivate yourself by feeding your identity – an individual part of a remarkable and courageous family.  – Durk Dehner, President & Cofounder, ToFF

The Weekend starts on Friday night (8:00 - 11:00 PM) with an Artists Reception at TOM House in Echo Park. 1421 Laveta Terrace, 90026. ($10 donation).

The Erotic Art Fair is open both Saturday (1:00 - 7:00 PM) and Sunday (12:00 - 6:00 PM) in West Hollywood Park’s auditorium and features 45 artists from around the world. On both days there are symposiums and drawing workshops. 647 North San Vicente, 90046. ($10 donation for both days).

The Foundation strives to include work representing all genders and sexual orientations and has protected, preserved and promoted the erotic arts for 27 years.