June 2010
TOM OF FINLAND : Untitled (preliminary drawing), 1989; graphite on paper; 11.75 x 8.25”
Location: Feature Inc. 131 Allen St. NYC 10002
Phone: 212.675.7772
Hours: Open Wednesday through Saturday 11AM – 6PM, Sunday 1 – 6 PM (closed 4-10 July)
Sketches from the archive of the legendary Tom of Finland will once again – it’s easily been ten or so years – hang on the walls of Feature Inc. Tom of Finland, the artist who took masculine to macho and big to XXX large, clocked the butch gay clone phenomenon at its onset and blew it out. His super hung studs, with more t&a than any cheesecaker could aspire to, are packed for action yet also deliver knowing glances and looks that are full of the camaraderie and humor that his vision of a utopian man to man culture was based on. This exhibition is made in cooperation with the Los Angeles based Tom of Finland Foundation.
Partnering Tom of Finland is and then some, sexual imagery by a number of other contemporary artists who frequently use sexual imagery in their work. The range is wide, tho less poser/genital display and more twist. Participating artists are: Richard Kern, Judy Linn, Bastille, Jerry Phillips, Martin of Holland, Joe Brainard, Fred Esher, Larry Clark, Robert W. Richards and Brian Kenny, Sean Landers, Richard Prince, Robert Fontanelli, GB Jones, Jeff Burton, Mie Yim, Raymond Pettibon, Catherine Opie, Carl Ferrero, Kevin Larmon, Jared Buckhiester, Judy Rifka, Jeffrey Pittu, Scooter Laforge, Tyler Ingolia, David Frye, The Hun, Kinke Kooi, Juan Gomez, Rex, Gengoroh Tagame.
Tom of Finland, Touko Laaksonen by birth, was born on the south coast of Finland on May 8, 1920. He trained and worked in design and advertising and in 1973, left his job to work full time on his drawings. Between 1978 and 1988, Tom of Finland split his time between Helsinki and Los Angeles; he died of an emphysema–induced stroke on November 7, 1991. This exhibition is made in cooperation with the Los Angeles based Tom of Finland Foundation.
[via Thornyc]
- Vibrator Use Among Gay and Bi Identified Men – About.com Guide to Sexuality Cory Silverberg highlights findings by scientist Michael Reece, who recently published data about vibrating sex toy use among gay and bisexual men. "Along with Debby Herbenick and colleagues at Indiana University's Center for Sexual Health Promotion, Reece has managed to find the funding and time to conduct basic research on sex toy use that has long been needed," Cory writes.
- Gay Workers Will Get Time to Care for Partner’s Sick Child – NYTimes.com – The new ruling indicates that an employee in a same-sex relationship can qualify for leave to care for the child of his or her partner, even if the worker has not legally adopted the child.<br />
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The ruling, in a formal opinion letter, tackles a question not explicitly addressed in the 1993 law. It is one of many actions taken by the Obama administration to respond to the concerns of gay men and lesbians within the constraints of the Defense of Marriage Act, which defines marriage as a union between a man and a woman as husband and wife. - The Myth of Lesbian Bed Death (Village Voice) – But where did this idea of “lesbian bed death” come from? Thank sociologist Pepper Schwartz, who, in her 1983 book American Couples, asserted that lesbians have less sex and intimacy than other couples. Although her methodology and results were later challenged, the idea of lesbian bed death has taken on a life of its own, with damaging results.
- Talking Sex, With Kink Educators and Anti-Porn Activists | Amanda Hess (Washinton City Paper) – If KinkForAll and “Porn Harms” have one thing in common, it’s an obsession with airing taboos.
Tired of searching for the ultimate guide to your D/s or SM relationship?
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Join Marketplace author Laura Antoniou and internationally acclaimed educator Midori for a special weekend intensive designed for real people who enjoy power dynamics and D/s, who want to consciously create quality relationships that suit their personal hungers and needs in the context of the real world.
Learn about the many styles of relationships we enjoy and discover the hidden and vital aspects of your own special way. You will be guided through a special curriculum designed to clearly identify your value system, behavior preferences and relationship goals.
Participants will develop insights to help them get what they want in current and future relationships. This unique curriculum will provide the tools for each individual or relationship unit to create their own customized manual of effective protocol, rules, etiquettes and codes of conducts. The instructors work closely with each student through out each step.
This weekend will include lectures, group discussions and exercises, with time for reflection and time for pure fun.
While experience or current D/s relationship is not necessary, students must be prepared for hard but fulfilling work. Sincerity, willingness to communicate and full participation is required.
Open to anyone with an orientation or a strong interest for a relationship which includes some variation and expression of power exchange or dominance and submission. Any experience level welcome. The weekend is excellent for those in current relationship or domestic units of 2 or more people. It is also highly effective for those who are not currently in relationship but wish have clear visions, goals and structure in place for future relationships.
Class size will be strictly limited to allow for a unique quality experience emphasizing individualized attention.
Through the unique curriculum and its innovative tools, each individual or relationship unit will create their own customized manual of effective protocol, rules, etiquettes and codes of conduct.
Sponsored by North Bound Leather. More information and registration link here.
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A note about the weekend from Laura Antoniou, author of the Marketplace series:
For almost 20 years, I have put my passion into teaching workshops aimed at the D/S community. I travel around the leather/SM/DS conventions and conferences and spend, at the most, 90 minutes to share what I know about complicated issues! What we do isn’t simple or easy and it sure can’t be compressed into 90 minutes.
With Passionate Bonds, participants get to bring their full attention and focus into an intimate setting where everything is about THEM. From the minute you settle in until the final session, it’s your identity, your relationship, your style, your taste, your values – your PASSION – that Midori and I want to find, identify and support.
From there, we can help you build the best way to live YOUR life. Not someone else’s way, not a fantasy, not some idealized, impossible to achieve image – but your honest, realistic and yes, romantic style of dominance & submission. From the little details about what to call each other to the big picture items like time management and planning for the future. In three days, you find out what is really important to you and how to best bring it into your life, with your current partner(s) or the next one.
You can spend your money on a new pair of leather pants or your time at a weekend watching dungeon play or fetish fashion. Or, you can make an investment in your relationships and values. If you are passionate about why you do this and want to know how to make your fantasy into reality, then this weekend is yours.
Laura
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A note from Midori about the weekend:
Laura and I are are thrilled about the upcoming weekend we’re co-facilitating. After years of into-the-wee-hours talks on the joys and pitfalls of real world D/s relationships, disparity in practical information, causes of D/s burnout, the need to address how to deal with real life challenges, our own D/s thrills and spills, we created and launched this last year.
We’ve created an experience where you can crystallize your vision and goals, create protocol that serves your style and relationship objective and discuss changes in that relationship. It’s not an easy process but we believe it’ll save you much heartache later. It’s made for both those already in and those who want to be in D/s relationships. We don’t teach the “one true way” – instead we strive to guide you to finding your authentic and fulfilling way.
This will be our pleasure!
Midori
From Alex Dram’s Flickr stream.
Via Filthy Gorgeous Things
