Your Voices

Tom’s work had such an impact on me as a youth, and it is still impacting me to this day. Keeping his message alive is vital during this time. Tom couldn’t have become who he was without Durk. Durk not only preserved his work but made it his life. So, having him not involved in any of the board’s decisions isn’t right.

I’m also concerned about the Artist-in-Residency Program and the Emerging Artist Contest, both of which I have supported and submitted my too.

The Artist-in-Residency Program should stay, as it provides a way for erotic artists like me to be promoted and showcased. Tom started this program to build up erotic artists in the community and help them reach his level. The house is a beacon of hope for an artist like me. I may not have the education or knowledge of a “fine art” college, but I do have passion and dedication to my work.

I saw online that this program went on for years, and I believe it should continue. If the residency program moves to New York (which is closer to me), I feel like it would lose its “spark,” so to speak. Los Angeles has just as many galleries for artists to show their work, while also having Palm Springs as another great place to showcase art, along with the actual Tom House. On top of that, Durk and Sharp are living there to not only guide artists but also show them the work of other erotic artists who have worked and lived in the same house. Plus, I’m sure they would help artists with anything they need.

If the residency moves to New York fully, I’ll message Durk and Sharp about doing a three-month residency. I would pay for my flight and pay rent for my room at the house for three months. I would love to have a chance to draw in Tom House, and during those three months, I would do so full-time.

Right now, I cannot do that because I need a full-time job to pay my bills. I know in my heart that I would do well in that environment. The only things I would ask for are promotion and the opportunity to have two shows.

I would love to have a chance to draw in the Tom House just like Tom did. I’ve been working on my own artistic path for three years now. I’ve grown my own following from five followers to almost two thousand. I’ve also started selling my new erotic drawings as prints. Eventually, I feel as though I will become another one of the great erotic artists. I hope, at least.

The Emerging Artist Contest is also very important. It gives smaller artists a chance to thrive. Back in the day, magazines were one of the ways an artist could gain notoriety, but now, with social media, it’s anyone’s game. Many artists struggle with the censorship of their work, especially during this new era of increased censorship. Once I started working on nude male figures, I saw my view count drop. So, in a way, this contest could really help artists like me.

As for Durk, I cannot help but feel bad for him. He’s worked on this all his life to preserve and promote gay, queer, and erotic art. To see how he has been shut out of conversations about Tom’s work—the very work he preserved for all of you—honestly makes me sad.

I know that if I had a foundation dedicated to preserving my work, I would never want something like this to happen.