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On Wednesday of Dore week, July 26, 2023, The Academy SF will hold an art showcase, reception, and silent auction celebrating the work of renowned photographer Jim Wigler, well-known especially for his work in “Drummer” Magazine.

The exhibit features images from a photo shoot at The Academy’s location during the early 1980s, plus a selection of Jim’s other work featuring gay men of San Francisco during his storied career.

The reception and auction will happen from 6 to 9 pm on July 26, at The Academy SF, 2166 Market Street.  Admission is $10; free for Academy SF members.  Leather attire is welcome.

The proceeds from the auction will benefit the LEATHER & LGBTQ Cultural District in San Francisco, and the Leather Archives & Museum in Chicago.

Pre-register, and learn more about Jim’s life and work, here.

All members of the kink community are invited to join the Leather Contingent and march in the Parade in their proudest gear.

The Leather Contingent is Contingent #116
Marchers should arrive between 9 and 11 am on Sunday, June 25, 2023, on Main Street, between Howard and Mission (“Block N”)

There is still time to sign up to be a volunteer Contingent Monitor: watch the video at:
https://78de4f307d778084d9c3eeb1abc37b19.tinyemails.com/1685752427150/ae81e219daa56c7b17249fce93ac04b6/51cc3e190ddc14d51b3945f33c3dbaa6.html
and register at: https://78de4f307d778084d9c3eeb1abc37b19.tinyemails.com/1685752427150/ae81e219daa56c7b17249fce93ac04b6/51714502f73358ba7aab229b5213c4c8.html

The contingent name to use is: Leather Contingent San Francisco
The contingent code is: SFL107

You can also volunteer to help carry the large Leather Pride Flag, or perhaps the Leather & LGBTQ Cultural District Banner.   Simply arrive between 9 and 11 am on Sunday, June 25, 2023, and look for us, Contingent #116, on Main Street, between Howard and Mission (“Block N”).

This year’s Leather Marshals will be Mark Hankins Jr., Reika Minxie, and Austin James.   

The Leather Contingent for the 2023 pride Parade on June 25 is being organized by Robert Makowka, taking over from Jason Husted who has coordinated it for many years.  For continuing updates, please like and follow the Facebook pages here and here.

After the parade, stop by the Cultural District’s booth at the Festival: We’re  Booth GG64, on Golden Gate Street at the corner of Hyde, near the entrance to Leather Alley.

 

Serge Gay, Jr. has now completed work on the mural on the Heron Street side of Mr. S Leather. Sponsored by the LEATHER & LGBTQ Cultural District, the mural depicts a playful puppy surrounded by his favorite toys, many of which are available inside Mr S.  An official unveiling of the mural will be scheduled in July, after Pride.

Here are some shots of the work in progress.

Serge was also the lead artist on the five-person team that painted the mural “Showtime!” on SF Oasis last year, along with Simón Malvaez, J Manuel Carmona, Christopher McCutcheon, and Elliott C. Nathan. “Showtime!” was also sponsored by the Cultural District in collaboration with Oasis Arts and the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence. In 2021, the District coordinated with artist Josh Katz to present the Sylvester mural on the Folsom Street side of Oasis.

You can see more of Serge’s work, along with Elliott’s, Manuel’s, Josh’s, and twelve other queer artists’, through Saturday, June 17, at the Pride Popup Art Show at Heron Arts Gallery, right down the street from the mural. You can make an appointment https://bit.ly/PridePopup. The show is a collaboration of the Cultural District and Heron Arts.

Progress Continues (6/15/2023):

 

The LEATHER & LGBTQ Cultural District is proud to partner with Frameline47 in the presentation of two films, selected from the over 100 films that are part of this 10-day, two-city festival.  Our films are these:

This year’s festival theme is SEE & BE SCENE, and features over 100 queer films, shown June 14-24 t at the Castro Theatre, the Roxie, the New Parkway Theatre in Oakland), the 4-Star, the Vogue, and the Balboa Theater, with streaming encores June 24 – July 2.

Frameline’s mission is to change the world through the power of queer cinema.  As a media arts nonprofit, Frameline’s programs connect filmmakers and audiences in the Bay Area and around the world.