Addressing Invisibility: The Damron Guides and the Geography of Pre-Liberation Gay America
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Bob Mizer Foundation Presents: Addressing Invisibility The Damron Guides and the Geography of Pre-Liberation Gay America ...
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Bob Mizer Foundation Presents:
Discovering Dureau: A Conversation with George Dureau Biographer Howard Smith and Photographer Becket Logan
Saturday, June 14 | 7:00–8:30 PM | $10 Admission | Free for Members & via Zoom
San Francisco, CA — The Bob Mizer Foundation is proud to present Discovering Dureau: A Conversation with George Dureau’s Biographer Howard Smith and Photographer Becket Logan, an evening dedicated to the life and legacy of one of New Orleans’ most influential and enigmatic photographers. The event will take place on Saturday, June 14, from 7:00 to 8:30 PM, and is held in conjunction with the Foundation’s current exhibition of Dureau’s work.
Through a dynamic conversation between Dureau’s biographer Howard Smith and longtime friend and photographer Becket Logan, guests will gain new insight into Dureau’s artistic methods, the people he photographed, and the intimate relationships that informed his vision. The talk will examine the themes that defined Dureau’s work—identity, desire, vulnerability—and his profound connection to the city of New Orleans. Special attention will be paid to the artist’s inner circle of collaborators, friends, and muses, whose presence helped shape his photographs and public life.
Tickets are $10, with free admission for Foundation members and those attending via Zoom. This program is part of the Bob Mizer Foundation’s ongoing Speaker Series, which highlights artists and thinkers whose work aligns with our mission to preserve and celebrate male physique photography and queer cultural history.
For more information or to register, visit www.bobmizer.org/calendar/howard-smith.
Contact:
Corbin Crable
Communications Director, Bob Mizer Foundation
info@bobmizer.org
About Howard Smith: Howard Philips Smith is a writer, novelist, and photographer, known primarily for his historical works, which focus on expanding the scope of gay history, especially in New Orleans. He is author of Unveiling the Muse: The Lost History of Gay Carnival in New Orleans and A Sojourn in Paradise: Jack Robinson in 1950s New Orleans, both published by University Press of Mississippi. His first novel, which is a work of historical fiction about the gay community in 1980s New Orleans, is The Cult of the Mask: The Strange and Delectable Tale of Life Among the Sybarites. His photography was included in Louisiana Lens: Photographs from The Historic New Orleans Collection by John H. Lawrence. His highly anticipated in-depth study of New Orleans artist George Dureau was published by the University Press of Mississippi in March 2025 entitled George Valentine Dureau: Life and Art in New Orleans.
About George Dureau: A celebrated figure in the art world, George Dureau (1930-2014) was renowned for his black-and-white photography and classical paintings. Rooted in the rich cultural heritage of New Orleans, Dureau’s art challenges conventions and highlights the resilience of the human spirit. His work has been exhibited internationally and continues to inspire audiences with its profound emotional depth and technical mastery.
Exhibition Details:
- Title: Discovering Dureau: A Conversation with George Dureau Biographer Howard Smith and Photographer Becket Logan
- Dates: March 6 - June 28, 2025
- Location: Bob Mizer Foundation, 920 Larkin St., San Francisco, CA
For more information, press inquiries, or to schedule a visit, please contact:
Corbin Crable
Director of Communications
Bob Mizer Foundation
staff@bobmizer.org
About the Bob Mizer Foundation and Research Center:
The Bob Mizer Foundation is dedicated to preserving the legacy of Bob Mizer, one of the most influential photographers of the 20th century. The Foundation houses Mizer’s extensive archive of photographs, films, and publications, and promotes the study of physique photography and its impact on modern visual culture. Through exhibitions, publications, and educational programs, the Foundation continues to foster an appreciation for Mizer’s work and its enduring influence on contemporary art.
Media
About The Bob Mizer Foundation
Bob Mizer (1922-92) was a mid-century male physique photographer. In 1945, Mizer founded the Athletic Model Guild; in 1951, he began publishing his pioneering zine Physique Pictorial, which would enjoy a press run of nearly 40 years.
During an era in which artists like Mizer could be (and were) censored and silenced by the ongoing threat of heavy fines, exposure to a puritanical public, and even jail time. His work remains a groundbreaking and critical component of LGBTQ+ culture and history, resonating with a global audience even today.
The Bob Mizer Foundation is dedicated to the promotion and preservation of Mizer's surviving works, which include photographs, slides, negatives, and films. Based in San Francisco, this nonprofit organization hosts regular art exhibits, in-person/online film screenings, and lectures by experts in male physique culture. Learn more and donate at www.bobmizer.org.
Press Contact
For more information, press inquiries, or to schedule a visit, please contact:
Corbin Crable
Chief Communications Officer
corbin@bobmizer.org
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