Artist Spotlight: Kevin Slack

It's no wonder that Fidel doesn't want his citizens to leave Cuba.

@BeautifulMag. Of course you would defend this...it's your livelihood. While I agree that these are nice images, I also agree that they are derivative. They look as if they might appear in your mag or in Blue (Australia). Very predictable I agree with the prior posters about pushing the art...Slava Mogutin is a good choice. So is Paul Mpagi Sepuya. Bruce LaBruce. Artists truly pushing the questions, and not just making it all PRETTY, but questioning what is beautiful and why. Slack's images lack.

Kevin Slack is an extra ordinary talent. A photographer with a vision. I find it shocking to read so many comments here that condemn him and his work, being nothing more than beefcake or soft porn. How small minded we all have become. Did anyone actually visit the artists website? Did anyone bother to look at the photos, the beautiful story they tell and read the words Kevin so beautifully composed?

I've curated many, many exhibits and directed two museums. These pictures are derivative, saccharine and unimaginative. Commercial perhaps, but they reveal little insight, emotion or artistic vision.

@Deke, fyi, I have photographed thousands of models, both for professional and personal work. In fact, I have produced several photo essays (books) that are now collector's items. One was done in Cuba, back in the 80's, when it was much harder to be a foreigner there than today. Others have done it as well (Benno Thoma, Kristen Bjorn) It isn't difficult to get people to pose. Just take a look at the hundreds of amateur websites out there with hundreds of photos of fresh flesh. Most are appalling endeavors, some are ok, a few are superb examples of photo and video work for adult entertainment. This work is just that, rather than new art. As mentioned in my prior rant, there are Gay, Lesbian, Transgendered, Queer artists making a whole different type of work that goes ignored by this publication (once very upstanding publication, now on par with People). The New York Times covered what it deemed a Gay Movement if not Moment back in 2007. Art is about questioning...not posing.

Kevin Slack shoots men in Cuba because of a "resolved fierceness of spirit and an unfettered sexuality that reveals itself in their bodies." TRANSLATION: "They are really poor and hot and will do whatever I want as I objectify them like some colonialist perv who won't be sending them royalty checks anytime soon from my completely average refrigerator soft core middle class almost porn." Oh brother.

Men? Boys of Cuba is more like it.

People who smugly criticize the artist for producing "nothing new" and for following his gonads obviously have no idea the challenge involved in this kind of photography, much less in a country like Cuba (not like I've been there, but...). And as for the voyeuristic aspect so often criticized in this genre, these models most often enjoy being photographed and it is often a boost to one's ego. And the photographer obviously respects his models. People who have never done this sort of thing fail to understand the bond that can develop between an artist and his/her models. And to them that may be what is most important. I feel honored to be allowed to share in that intimate moment.

Thank you for highlighting Kevin Slack. I recently ran across his web page and was blown away with the beauty of his models and, of course, the beauty of the Cuban scenery, both urban and rural, which is breathtaking. I am hoping Mr. Slack publishes a book of his cuban photographs!

Eye-candy, nothing more. Kristen Bjorn did this 20 years ago. Is he still around? Even the twin thing...so 1980's. Nothing new here, just some nice eye-candy...nothing groundbreaking or even attempting to offer any new insights. Why won't the Advocate cover artists pushing the edges, you know, what art is best at? (Slava Mogutin, Catherine Opie, Keith Boadwee, AA Bronson, Glenn Ligon, Felix Gonzalez-Torres, Terence Koh, Erik Scollon, Franko B) Or at least re-title the spread to WEEKLY BEEFCAKE.