CAMILLE O'GRADY: THIS IS THE END

san franciso legend camille o'grady passed away this morning amidst  world  collapse.

camille was an incredible singer, poet and visual artist. she became lovers with robert opel in the mid 70s. together they presented 

fey way studios: the first fetish- glbtq art gallery- ever!

fey way presented tom of finland, robert mapplethope, rex, the hun, entienne, and many fetish artists to the public for the first time.

camille was the only woman allowed at the leather bars/sex clubs throughout the 70s. mainly because she passed as a leatherman.  camille was present when robert opel was murdered at the gallery. the authorities called it a robbery gone wrong. camille and friends knew it was political retaliation from a police state era which was unhappy with the burgeoning gay scene and the blaming of  fellow cop dan white
 for harvey milk's murder.
camille went into hiding for many years after robert's murder. in the early 2000's camille took me to the original location of fey way studios. like an omen the space was open and availble for rent. camille was reunited with the guy that saved her life. an upstairs neighbor. 
yes, i have it all on film!

camille o'grady was an original spirit with original ideas. a truly one-of-a-kind person-

 rip  dear sorceress~

OSCAR WILDE DEATH SALON~ NOVEMBER 27TH @ TOM HOUSE

&

 THE PURPLE CIRCUIT

  PRESENT  

   OSCAR WILDE

 DEATH DAY SALON 

   NOVEMBER 27TH

   5PM

  (SALON ENDS @7PM) 

  $25  PREPAID RESERVATIONS REQUIRED

    HAND-BLENDED TEA

 CAKES & DAINTIES WILL BE SERVED 

       HOSTED BY RICK CASTRO 

  RESEARCH PRESENTED BY BILL KAISER 

ON DISPLAY~
WILDEAN ART CROSS BY MICHAEL KEARNS
FIRST EDITION  OSCAR WILDE BOOKS~ SUNFLOWER EDITIONS 1909

  TOM OF FINLAND HOUSE 

  1421 LAVETA TERRACE  ECHO PARK, CA 90026 

  info- antebellum@earthlink.net 

WILDE'S LEGACY TO LGBTQ COMMUNITY

Oscar Wilde, during his travels after release from prison,

 called himself Sebastian Melmoth, deriving this pseudonym
 from the title character in his great-uncle's novel and from Saint Sebastian.

 Wilde, an Irish writer and poet, was about as "out of the closet" as was possible for the late 19th century, 
and is himself considered to be a gay icon.

OSCAR WILDE'S 165TH BIRTHDAY SALON OSCAR & WALT: TRUE LOVE~ OCTOBER 16TH

& THE PURPLE CIRCUIT

 PRESENT  

 OSCAR WILDE'S 165TH BIRTHDAY SALON

OSCAR & WALT: TRUE LOVE

   OCTOBER 16TH

  5PM 

(SALON ENDS @7PM)

 $25  RESERVATIONS REQUIRED

  HAND-BLENDED TEA & DAINTY SANDWICHES WILL BE SERVED

  FOLLOWED BY OSCAR'S FAVORITE~  "PRINCESS CAKE"  

   HOSTED BY RICK CASTRO  
RESEARCH PRESENTED BY BILL KAISER

 TOM OF FINLAND HOUSE 

 1421 LAVETA TERRACE  ECHO PARK, CA 90026 

 info- antebellum@earthlink.net 

OSCAR WILDE READ WALT WHITMAN'S CLASSIC~ LEAVES OF GRASS

 WHEN HE WAS 11 YEARS OF AGE. 

ON JANURARY 18TH, 1882 HIS BOYHOOD DREAM WAS FULLFILED. 

OSCAR MET HIS IDOL COMMENTING~

 " HE WAS THE GRANDEST MAN I HAVE EVER SEEN. THE SIMPLEST, MOST NATURAL, AND STRONGEST CHARACTER I HAVE EVER MET IN MY LIFE."

RICK CASTRO: FETISH KING- APRIL 6TH @ TOM OF FINLAND HOUSE

RICK CASTRO: FETISH KING

selected seminal photographs 1986-2019

presented by: Tom of Finland Foundation

dates: April 6th- April 27th, 2019

reception: Saturday, April 6th- 6pm- 9pm

curator: Ruben Esparza

Tom of Finland Foundation

1421 Laveta Terrace

Los Angeles, CA 90026

213 250-1685

On view through April 27th, by appointment

The artist’s sex positive imagery is darkly erotic, elegant, and at times sinister.

A powerful figure that emerged in the Los Angeles underground during the late 80’s,

 Rick Castro was dubbed the FETISH KING by all that know him.

 His photographs are characterized by potent and visceral tableaux, tinged with sadomasochism, leather and sexual pleasure. From the artist’s fetishizing of Tony Ward

 in the 80’s, to capturing moments, places and the people of the underground scene

 in Los Angeles nightlife in the 90’s and 00’s. He continues his pictorial career and fascination with lust, desire and kink, producing elegant portraiture of celebrated artists 

and the demi-monde.

 Durk Dehner founder of the Tom of Finland Foundation was one of his first collectors. 

The Tom House is where Mr. Castro hosts his weekly tea salon and monthly book club.

Born in Los Angeles in 1958, Rick began his early career working as a fashion stylist and costume designer. His clients over the years included Bette Milder, David Bowie, Herb Ritts, Joel-Peter Witkin and publications like Interview, GQ, Rolling Stone, and Vanity Fair.

Castro first became a free-lance photographer in 1988 with his work appearing in international and local publications.

His first solo exhibition was at Different Light Bookstore in Silverlake, CA, in 1988.

 Over the decades he has had numerous international exhibitions. Notable films includes his short films of hustler interviews in 1994 that inspired Bruce LaBruce to make the film Hustler White,1996,  in which Rick was co-director/writer.

 The film garnered great success internationally and is listed by the 

Los Angeles Times in the top 100 underground films of the 20th century. 

Rick also directed a documentary for MTV called Plushies & Furries in 2001,

 a film which focused on the furry communities.

Over his 30 plus career, Rick Castro has photographed producer Alan Poul, 

porn star Peter Berlin, author Gore Vidal, director Kenneth Anger,

 performance artist Ron Athey, and the 14th Dalai Lama.

Castro has created editorial photos for Christian Dior Homme, Cartier jewelry

 and designer Rick Owens, realizing photographs that are notably more than fashion.

His films are archived by UCLA Legacy Projects, and his books and photographs are archived by the Alfred Kinsey Institute, and Tom of Finland Foundation. 

He continues his art practice, and commissioned photo shoots.