Dade Ursus

While it would be easy to turn this blog into a collection of big-eyed anime characters, transforming robots, and other sanitized, kid-friendly content, my blog just would not be complete without a few tip-of-the-hat's to gay artists who inspired me to do artwork for a gay audience.  DaDe Ursus is one of those artists.  His work was commonly seen on t-shirts back in the mid-1990's as the bear movement was picking up steam.  Around that time, I made my first trip to San Francisco, to the Lone Star, and to the Bear Store which was run by Brush Creek Media.  They were the ones who marketed DaDe Ursus, and at the Bear Store were all sorts of tshirts and art cards with his work on them, but the best find was his book, "Bears, Beasts & Masculine Beauties".

It actually took me a long time to get this book.  For some reason, I hesitated, and instead went home with another volume in this series, and then we all know what happened.  Brush Creek Media went under, the store was closed, and suddenly books like these were out of print. At Bear Week a few years ago, we noticed people walking around with t-shirts that looked identical to the ones minted back in the 1990's, as if they had just come off the presses.  We made our way over to M.G. Leather, where we learned that they bought all the outstanding stock from the Bear Store!  I was able to acquire this long lost volume and a few like-new tees.  My most favorite of them all, sadly, was not available, so I will be sure to take extra care of my original, well worn garment (stock image below - tee has been put away).

Tom Of Finland Foundation

Happy to see that the world of Tom Of Finland has a web presence, AND a blog, so that I can keep up with them.  I saw today's lead story on Facebook and it brought a smile to my own face.  The LA Band Of Brothers, a group of leather titleholders from the city of the same name, volunteered at what I believe is Tom's House (which the Tom of Finland Foundation is trying to preserve).  It looks like they put in a lot of sweat equity into the house where it was needed most.  I like hearing about clubs helping their own community, especially when it comes in a form other than fundraising.  As gay people, we have our own culture, which includes our own art and history.  To see these men preserving it is really inspirational.  Support the gay arts!!

LA Band of Brothers at Tom's House