I visited Tom of Finland Foundation's craftsman style home to attend Rick Castro's Antebellum Tea that occurs every Wednesday from 5pm to 7pm. I was surrounded in the living room by 6 sparkly, collage like, textural, multimedia portraits of Leathermen. Saw Ben's latest oeuvre, that was created during his stay as Artist in Residence at the Tom of Finland House in Los Angeles, California in the livingroom of where he is staying, during late afternoon tea hosted by Rick Castro. I was particularly attracted to his glittery, sparkling multimedia self portrait depicting himself as a bearded Leatherman. The surrounding negative space was suffused with a golden hue along with small, discreet images by Tom of Finland and other Gay references as an homage to our past roots as well as making a statement for the present in depicting Gay men as happy, well adjusted, productive men who live a well lived life joyously and proudly. SomethIng that Tom of Finland expressed in his erotic art honoring the love of men for other men. I met Ben at the tea salon and got to hear his various opinions and comments surrounded by his art work. Even before I found out he was the creator of the objets d'art, I kept staring at the golden art piece, and now I am privileged to be able to hang it in my home. Thanks, Ben, for letting me connect to an image that resonates deeply within me. read more

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