Take a look at any gay male hook-up (or “extremely short-term dating”) site and you’ll find lots of pictures of local guys taken by photographer, Bela Dornon. Currently, Bela is working on a safe-sex ad campaign featuring America’s Finest City’s finest men “modeling” condoms in various colors and sizes. In this case, “plus-size” models are most effective at selling the product and getting a message across.

That message might be a bit more effective if the ad campaign went a step further and showed the models using the product. How often do you put on a condom and just wait for something fun and exciting to happen? It may entice a would-be barebacker to go the safe-sex route. Isn’t it well worth the risk of offending a few uptight, wannabe A-gays and lesbians? For now we can admire Bela’s work, regardless whether the models are “plus size,” “average size,” or “we-can-only-be-friends size.”

San Diego’s art community is gaining momentum and it was evident at CityFest. Bela was snapping away and scouting new talent for the safe-sex campaign. Local leather men Mark O’Keefe and Michael McKeon were also there. Michael was one of the featured artists at the 2007 Mr. San Diego Leather contest and I’m sure he’ll be involved next year when we expand the art show. Mark O’Keefe was Mr. San Diego Leather 1997 and keeps his hands in all kinds of projects pertaining to the leather community. His latest is the “History Project” documenting the history of San Diego’s leather community, which is one of the oldest and most well-established leather communities in the country. I always say, “Great Mr. San Diego Leathers never go away.” They stick around and haunt us for the rest of our leather lives.

Art has become an important part of the San Diego leather community the past few years. Any non-leather person who dared venture into the “scary” Leather Realm during Pride witnessed the art display and sale of works from The Tom of Finland Foundation and some of San Diego’s most talented artists. San Diego’s leather community has always had class and culture. Now you can see there’s much more to us than whips and chains. Well, maybe not much more but, more nonetheless. Take a walk into some of the North Park art galleries and you’ll see beautiful paintings from one of our favorite local leather women. I won’t name her because I didn’t ask and she can be tough when she wants to be. She is a leather woman, after all! While in North Park, be sure to venture into the Rubber Rose, which has established itself as an awe-inspiring art gallery and boutique.

Pleasures and Treasures on University Avenue always has it going on in the art department. Jimmy Mazzarese-Thibault Studios is there for the entire month of September with an opening reception on Sunday, Sept. 9 from 1-4 p.m. Jimmy’s work has few, if any boundaries, and one never quite knows what to expect when Jimmy’s involved. I know you’ll like his work.

Experience the best of “America’s Finest City” and I’ll see ya In The Pit.