Get Philip OUT of TOWN… A travel fundraiser for Mr. Midwest Leather

C.L.A.W. update…

Thanks to all who attended the body cast demo at Cleveland Leather Awareness Weekend!!! ( 4-29-11 through 5-1-11)  A special thanks to Steve who volunteered his freshly shaved self for casting.  Sales of the sculptures I donated combined with sales of my book, Dark Impressions, netted over $750. for C.L.A.W.

I can’t wait until next year!  Following are a few pictures from what was an incredible weekend!

 

 

 

 

TOM of FINLAND is Coming to St. Louis…

IT’S OFFICIAL!!!  Through special arrangement with The Tom of Finland Foundation in Los Angeles and Feature Inc. in New York, PHD Gallery will exhibit 27 original graphite on paper drawings by Touko Laaksonen, aka TOM of FINLAND.  “TOM of FINLAND; Original Drawings”, opens June 25th at PHD Gallery and continues through August 6th.  It is the first EVER exhibition in St. Louis of ORIGINAL Tom of Finland drawings!!!  The opening reception is Saturday, June 25, 7-10PM.  Donations of $10 at the door will benefit The Tom of Finland Foundation.

Tom’s images of idealized masculinity are iconic but few people have seen anything other than reproductions proliferated on line.  The PHD exhibition will showcase 12 “finished” graphite on paper drawings (designated NFS) and 15 “preliminary drawings” that will be offered for sale.  Works culled from throughout his career will be on view.

If gay men have historically been portrayed as weak, pathetic, and sad individuals, then TOM’s drawings blew this stereotype out of the water!  His men were proud, happy and dignified.  They were powerful and unapologetic and gay men saw these hyper-masculine images as heroes.  Indeed, if you glance through comic books you’ll see the depiction of most Super Heroes is not unlike the men in TOM’s drawings:

“In those days, a gay man was made to feel nothing but shame about his feelings and his sexuality. I wanted my drawings to counteract that, to show gay men being happy and positive about who they were. Oh, I didn’t sit down to think this all out carefully. But I knew, right from the start, that my men were going to be proud and happy men!”

 ~ Tom of Finland

Tom’s drawings espoused an ideal in sexual prowess, and worldly empowerment for gay men that lasts even today.

Bodycast Demos at C.L.A.W…

At this year’s C.L.A.W., (Cleveland Leather Awareness Weekend) I will be doing two bodycast demos as part of the BDSM Art Show!  The demos are scheduled for Friday, April 29th at 6PM and Saturday, April 30th at 11AM.  Both demos take place in the Carnegie prefunction room at the Hilton Garden Inn  in downtown Cleveland, Ohio.

In addition to donating two sculptures for the auctions benefiting C.L.A.W., I will be offering a limited sculpture which features the 2011, C.L.A.W. 10 logo.  he edition of seven will retail for $250. each, a portion of the proceeds benefiting C.L.A.W.

U.S. Representative Russ Carnahan visits PHD Gallery…

You’re not the only ones hearing the buzz about Cherokee Street… Last Thursday, March 24th, Congressman Carnahan had to see for himself! Shown here are Congressman Russ Carnahan and PHD Gallery owner Philip Hitchcock, flanked by Aldermen Craig Schmid and Ken Ortmann.

The finale to a great event…

Mr. Midwest Leather Philip Hitchcock Gets Mr. Just John PLASTERED!

Hot Bods Immortalized for Charity!

St. Louis, MO, February 27, 2011:  Despite Oscar parties and tornadic winds of 70 miles per hour, leather and art lovers flocked to Just John Nightclub Sunday night to see the unveiling of the statue created by Mr. Midwest Leather, Philip Hitchcock.  Also on view and up for auction were the statues created live on stage two weeks earlier of semi-finalists Lee Spain, Jeremy Wright, and Dan Hopkins.

The highlight of the evening was the statue reveal of Mr. Just John Contest winner: Lee Spain!  Hitchcock’s lifesize statue of Spain will be installed at the club and remain on view permanently.

Money from the auction of the three smaller statues combined with donations from the two previous events totaled nearly $2500., and will benefit Tom of Finland Foundation and a local St, Louis youth outreach group.

Mr. Midwest Leather and Artist Philip Hitchcock shown with the  statues of the semifinalists.

 

Gold painted contest winner Lee Spain (far left) marvels at the unveiled statue of himself created by Mr. Midwest Leather Philip Hitchcock.  Also pictured are living statues Jeremy Wright and Dan Hopkins.

Installation shot of statue now on permanent view at Just John Nightclub.

“Midwest Leather” Calendar now available, launch party March 3rd!…

Mr. Midwest Leather, Philip Hitchcock, will sign copies of MIDWEST LEATHER, an 18 month calendar featuring twenty leather clad (and unclad!) photographs of Hitchcock, shot by Shannen Green. The sepia toned, 40 page calendar runs through June 2012 and sells for $24.95. Proceeds from the sale of the calendar benefit the TOM of FINLAND FOUNDATION and the Mr. Midwest Travel Fund.

Join us Thursday, March 3, 2011 from 9PM to Midnight at BAD DOG BAR for the launch of MIDWEST LEATHER!  Bad Dog is located at 3960 Chouteau Ave.St. Louis, MO 63110.  For more information call 314.652.0011.

(To order by credit card, email philip@philiphitchcock.com

or call (314) 664-6644)