INTAGE 1983 INTERNATIONAL MR. LEATHER (IML) PROMOTIONAL POSTER – ORIGINAL ETIENNE (DOM OREJUDOS) ARTWORK – CHICAGO GOLD COAST BAR EPHEMERA (17" X 22")
ITEM SPECIFICS:
- EVENT: INTERNATIONAL MR. LEATHER (IML) 1983
- ARTIST: ETIENNE (DOM OREJUDOS, 1933–1991)
- YEAR CREATED / PUBLISHED: SIGNED IN PLATE 1982 / FOR THE MAY 1983 EVENT
- VENUE/CONTACT INFO: THE GOLD COAST BAR, 501 N. CLARK ST. CHICAGO, IL 60610
- DIMENSIONS: 17" X 22" (STANDARD ORIGINAL RELEASE SIZE)
- PRINTING TYPE: HIGH-GLOSS OFFSET LITHOGRAPH POSTER ON PAPER STOCK
- GENRE: VINTAGE GAY INTEREST / LEATHER SUB-CULTURE / MALE EROTIC ART / HISTORIC EPHEMERA
DESCRIPTION:
UP FOR SALE IS A SCARCE, INCREDIBLY POWERFUL PIECE OF LGBTQ+ PRINT AND SOCIAL HISTORY: THE ORIGINAL 1983 INTERNATIONAL MR. LEATHER COMPETITION POSTER. PRODUCING A HIGHLY DRAMATIC IMPACT, THIS 17" X 22" POSTER WAS ISSUED TO ADVERTISE THE HISTORIC 5TH ANNUAL IML WEEKEND GATHERING HELD AT THE CAVERNOUS INDOOR HUBS OF CHICAGO'S LEGENDARY MALE LEATHER CULTURE CENTER: THE GOLD COAST BAR ON NORTH CLARK STREET.
THE GRAPHIC COMPOSITION IS MASTERFULLY DESIGNED BY CELEBRATED BALLET DANCER, CHOREOGRAPHER, AND FOREFATHER OF QUEER EROTICA, DOM OREJUDOS (SIGNING UNDER HIS FAMOUS ALIAS "ETIENNE"). IT FEATURES A HEROICALLY PROPORTIONED, ULTRA-MASCULINE CHISELED LEATHERMAN HOLDING CHAINS OVER ROCKS UNDER AN EXPLOSIVE FLASH OF LIGHT. THE PRINT CARRIES HIS AUTHENTIC IN-PLATE SIGNATURE STAMPED "ETIENNE © 1982" ON THE LOWER LEFT FLANK.
SURVIVING EPHEMERA FROM THIS POST-STONEWALL, EARLY-IML ERA IS EXTREMELY HARD TO FIND IN STABLE CONDITION, MAKING THIS AN EXCEPTIONAL ACQUISITION FOR VAULT ARCHIVES, INVESTORS, AND COLLECTORS OF HISTORICAL LEATHER/SM SUB-CULTURE ART.
CONDITION:
- OVERALL: VERY GOOD TO EXCELLENT VINTAGE CONDITION OVERALL WITH VIBRANT ORANGE, BLACK, AND COBALT BLUE TONAL GLOSS.
- BACKSIDE: COMPLETELY BLANK AND CLEAN (SEE PHOTO). NO MOUNTING ADHESIVE RESIDUE, NO DRY TAPE MARKS, NO STAMP MARKS, AND NO AGE SPOTTING (FOXING). THE WHITE PAPER STOCK REMAINS EXTREMELY BRIGHT AND WELL-PRESERVED FROM STORAGE.
- EDGES/CORNERS: EXTREMELY CLEAN EDGES WITH NO MAJOR TEARS OR HEAVY CHIPPING. (NOTE: THE STONES SHOWN PLACED AT THE CORNERS ARE TEMPORARY WEIGHTS USED SOLELY TO HOLD THE PAPER FLAT FOR PHOTOGRAPHY AND ARE NOT ATTACHED.)
- SURFACE: NO PINHOLES, NO WRITING, AND NO TAPE RESIDUE ON THE BACK OR FRONT AREAS. FLAT, SOLID PAPERS WITH LIGHT VINTAGE HANDLING CHARACTER.
SHIPPING & HANDLING:
SHIPS DISCREETLY AND SECURELY COMPACTED IN A RIGID, HEAVY-DUTY CARDBOARD SHIPPING TUBE WITH FULL TRACKING PROVIDED TO GUARANTEE SECURE, BEND-FREE ARRIVAL AT YOUR DOORSTEP.