Toxic Masculinity as Sexual Obsession
- Address:
- 705 Gunter St, Austin, TX 78702
- Presented By: MASS Gallery
- Dates: 2/15/2025, 2/16/2025, 2/21/2025
- Location: MASS Gallery
- Price: Free
January 18—February 21
Opening: Jan 18, 6—10pm
MASS Gallery is proud to announce Toxic Masculinity: The Old Reliable World Of David Hurles, exploring the life and works of the legendary photographer and diarist. The show, curated by Beth Schindler and Hurles’ friends Dian Hanson and Christopher Trout, delves into the late artist’s obsession with rough trade, and how it ultimately led to his demise. This is the first show of his work since 2010, when fan John Waters mounted an exhibition at Marianne Boesky Gallery in New York to help pay Hurles’ medical bills. Is it also the first ever to present his audio, video, still photography, and personal effects in one space.
About the Artist:
From 1968 to 2007, Hurles operated under the moniker Old Reliable, creating a prolific collection of underground male photography. He specialized in rough trade and straight men he often found on the streets of San Francisco, and later, Los Angeles. “Who is exciting?” Hurles confessed in a 2007 interview with Hanson. “There were bank robbers, strong-arm men and murderers. Would a person appeal to me more if he were straight? I have to say so. If he’d been to prison…ten extra points for that. I came to realize I was attracted to sociopaths.”
Hanson notes that “Hurles’ tastes also tilted towards the sort of poor midwestern and southern boys whose remains might be found in the wreckage of a meth lab, with their dirty nails, home-inked tattoos, and slow country drawls. Once he established his Old Reliable photo studio … he fixated entirely on hustlers, criminals, sociopaths, and violent red state boys. While other photographers worked at making saleable products, Hurles concentrated on getting close to the men who made him tremble.” In October 2008, Hurles suffered a massive stroke while shooting meth with his last, straight, criminal partner. He spent the remaining 14-plus years of his life in a state-run nursing home in Hollywood, just miles from the mansion that he purchased at the peak of his popularity. His best friend and executor of his estate, Dian Hanson, cared for him until his death in April, 2023.
About the Curators:
Beth Schindler is an artist, curator and organizer living and working in Austin, Texas. She is a founding member of Homo Photo Club, QueerBomb and OUTsider Festival, and the creator of events like Dyke Bar, Lesbian Wedding, Lesbian Touch, Austin Dyke March, and Power Snatch. She currently serves as president of MASS Gallery. Her most recent, Lesbian Mapping Project has become an international success.
Dian Hanson is the sexy book editor at TASCHEN publishing, with over 50 titles to her credit. Her imprints include The Big Penis Book, Bob’s World, Tom of Finland XXL and ARNOLD. She formerly served as Editor-in-Chief of men’s magazines like Juggs, Leg Show, and Oui. Hanson is the head of the Hurles estate.
Christopher Trout is an award-winning multimedia journalist and creative director. He is the co-founder of The Grass Agency and The Bob Mizer Foundation, former Editor-in-Chief of Engadget, and creator/host of the viral web series, Computer Love. You can find him on Substack at SexAndTheCyborg.com.