WHAT IS GOING ON IN WEHO?

after 8 years of hosting THE TOM OF FINLAND ART FAIR @
WEST HOLLYWOOD PARK, a new conservative "regime" is making some ridiculous statements.

here's the story from the tom of finland foundation-

the tom of finland foundation is seeing the signs of what could be a revisit to the Culture Wars of the early 90s when the National Endowment for the Arts enacted their “decency clause.”

The City of West Hollywood and the Tom of Finland Foundation share the same year they were founded – over a quarter of a century ago. They share a partnership which has allowed the work of hundreds of artists to be seen by thousands and thousands at the annual West Hollywood / Los Angeles Erotic Art Fair Weekend (WHLA EAFW) since 2003.


The Fair has taken place in the city’s West Hollywood Park Auditorium. On Thursday, the City’s Arts and Cultural Affairs Commission chose NOT to endorse the 16th EAFW as they have in the past. The Fair has never produced any negative incidents or complaints from the public. The Commissioners who did not vote to support this cultural event in their city did so because,
“ THE CHILDREN WHO ALSO USE THE PARK” although they have been assured every year that minors are not allowed entry and that the interior of the festival is very well shielded from passer-bys.

Tom of Finland’s work was seen by 288,000 visitors to the 53rd International Art Exhibition – La Biennale – in the gardens, the Giardini, of Venice, Italy that host 30 national pavilions. Works by Tom of Finland are in the Art Institute of Chicago which is located in the “Museums In the Park” complex. His work has been shown in the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, a sprawling park comprised of exhibition galleries, public spaces and gardens. Tom of Finland’s artwork has been seen in the Museum of Modern Art, New York – inside – with its handsome public garden outside. The same exhibition, Compass in Hand, has travelled to the Instituto Valenciano de Arte Moderno in Spain and opens at the Martin-Gropius-Bau in Berlin, in March.

Marti Pike, ToFF’s Head Librarian, and Sharp, ToFF’s Chairman of the Board of Directors, were at the Commission’s January meeting to answer any questions about the WHLA EAFW the Commissioners may have had. Of the Commissioners not supporting the Art Fair Weekend this year, it was not made known who has attended it, or any of its associated events in the past, although all have received both personal and written invitations, and opening ceremonies are officiated by City of West Hollywood Mayors and Council Members.

** RICK CASTRO says- "as a gallery owner and opponent of censorship, i am appalled by this announcement from west hollywood. what was once, "the creative city" is fast turning into generic main street USA.


i urge all residents of west hollywood to express support of
tom of finland art fair and condemn the statement by
west hollywood arts & cultural affairs commission.

here is there info-
city of west hollywood- arts & culture
8300 Santa Monica Boulevard
(between La Cienega and Fairfax)
(323) 323-848-6883
(323) 848-6400