Where the magic happens: 5 things with Durk Dehner of Tom of Finland Foundation

3rd November 2022, 1:24 pm

 

Photo by Michelle Shiers

Durk Dehner was born John Jonathan Jr. It wasn’t until many years later, in Los Angeles, where he was able to fully inhabit his self-given name, Durk Dehner: a moniker merging the writing on the side of a pair of secretly cherished sunglasses once found on the dashboard of a 1954 Ford convertible (D-U-R-K); and a leather boot company out of Omaha, Nebraska (Dehner). Dehner is the beating heart behind TOM House and cofounder at the helm of Tom of Finland Foundation, first brought to life in 1984. The nonprofit was established by Dehner and his one-time partner the erotic artist Tom of Finland who had, by that point, established worldwide recognition as the master of homoerotic art. The Foundation’s original purpose was to preserve his vast catalog of work but has since expanded to act as overarching Queer art advocates, educating the public as to the cultural merits of erotic art and in promoting healthier, more tolerant attitudes about sexuality.

“It is a mecca that celebrates the beauty of our homosexual desires. The task at hand is to nourish it, to make sure it sustains itself, because it sustains our identity.” – Durk Dehner

TOM House, a beacon beaming from the hills of Echo Park, serves as homebase for the Foundation. It’s where the magic happens, housing an expansive collection of homoerotic artworks, hosting gatherings and artists for residencies. Its influence, both past and present, is such that in 2016 the house was designated a Historic-Cultural Monument by the City of Los Angeles. In Dehner’s words, “It is a mecca that celebrates the beauty of our homosexual desires. The task at hand is to nourish it, to make sure it sustains itself, because it sustains our identity.”

In advance of TOM’s Weekend — a celebration of Pride featuring all things Tom of Finland in Palm Springs — Durk Dehner took some time to hand-select five of his favorite pieces residing at TOM House.

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Published: 3rd November 2022

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