Famed erotic artist Tom of Finland made as much of an impact on the lives of individual men as he did on the history of masculine representation. On a palm tree-lined street in Echo Park sits the Tom of Finland Foundation, a site that testifies to both personal and historical memory. Foundation co-founder and former Bruce Weber model Durk Dehner met Tom because of a compelling image on a bathroom wall, and soon became the artist's muse, patron, and longtime friend. In this short video, Dehner and foundation vice president S.R. Sharp discuss Tom's radical imaginary, his command of the gay male gaze, how Tom of Finland got his name, and why Tom made the move to Los Angeles. Dehner has preserved the home he shared with Tom as a homage to Tom's legacy, and to this day, the home remains open to the public.

 

To schedule a tour of the Tom of Finland Foundation please call 213-250-1685.

http://www.TomOfFinlandFoundation.org

 

Bob Mizer & Tom of Finland. Organized by MOCA Curator Bennett Simpson and Guest Co-Curator Richard Hawkins. MOCA Pacific Design Center, 8687 Melrose Avenue, West Hollywood, CA 90069. November 2 - January 26, 2014.

 

Directed by Emma Reeves

Shot by Tom Salvaggio & Andy Featherston

Edited by Tom Salvaggio.

 

Tom of Finland, 1978. (c) The Robert Mapplethorpe Foundation. Used by permission.