Magnet hosted an Aug. 5 reception for the artist, Kevin P. Mosley and his series of 11 paintings entitled “Ladies and Gentlemen, Girls and Boys,” which will remain on display at Magnet’s headquarters on 18th and Castro throughout August. A portion of the proceeds from pieces sold that night benefited Magnet. Mosley’s work is held in private collections in San Francisco, Los Angeles, New York, Washington DC, Alaska, and London, and he said he is proud to have a sample of his work included in a section of the tweaker.org website.

“I have no formal art education or training but have always had something going on—some project to keep my brain and hands busy. Making art is neither mysterious nor scientific; it’s just something I have to do,” he said. “Living as I do, surrounded by a parade of seemingly unintentional and sort of insidious sameness, informs what and how I paint—making and remaking the same iconic image over and over and over again using myself as the means of mechanical reproduction.” He elaborated, “I prefer image repetition. The mundane and routine can and ought to be experienced as precious and worthy of attention.” This particular series features beefy musclemen and beautiful women, with a pattern of circles and squares and lots of gold leaf, reminiscent of Gustav Klimt and his students’ artwork. “I don’t think I’m ripping off Klimt, who I greatly admire. I just happen to like geometry,” he told Bay Times. He paints almost exclusively on found glass, old wood frames, and window panes “acquired with some cajoling to renovation contractors, or shelves and doors of a cabinet left behind and marked as ‘free’ after the good stuff has sold at a yard sale.”

Mosley said most of the pieces he has on hand currently are hanging on Magnet’s walls, with a few being tucked away in his apartment closet. “I paint at home; since I clutter up all the counter space and stain the sink and floor with paint splatter and flecks of metal leaf, I lamely call the kitchen my studio.” What he doesn’t sell, he gives away. He said he intends to paint more in the near future. Mosley told Bay Times that in 1989 he had lived in New York, downstairs from artist Jon Brito, who painted on glass and showed him the details of the procedure. Mosley stopped after a while and then took it up again in 2000. Then he stopped for a little longer and recently showed his work at an exhibition entitled “Off the Grid,” at the LGBT Community Center in March along with Jerry Frost and Elliot Linwood, and at the SF Sex Worker Film & Art Fest in May. “I’m so happy to have this show at Magnet, because I love what the organization does and all the service it provides for queer men—health, well being, and socializing opportunities.” This reviewer’s personal favorite of the series is “Meat Triptych,” an acrylic and metal leaf on medicine cabinet shelves depicting two very hunky guys in very bulging Speedos, one panel on the left and another on the right, with a panel in the middle of a butcher’s illustration of the parts of a huge side of beef—flank, loin, rib, chuck, brisket, etc. Draw your own conclusions. I have mine.

Painting is not Mosley’s only passion. He also works at the Stonewall Project, a harm reduction program for queer men using methamphetamines. He is a drug counselor and also leads a support group twice weekly. In whatever time that is left over, he works on the tweaker.org website, moderating the forum and writing content. He said tweaker.org launched the newest version in February. He said that, like so many queer men—me included—he was a tweaker back in the day. “If I had a message to users, I’d say that it is not going to kill you to stop, if you want. You’re not going to die of boredom or die period.”

Magnet’s Executive Director Steven Gibson announced that one of Magnet’s secret admirers has issued a $100,000 challenge to the community. His generous seed gift of $10,000 gets the ball rolling, but they need others’ help to reach their goal. “Whether it’s one buck or ten grand, your support ensures that we’ll be able to offer sexual health services and community events that have become an important, vibrant part of the Castro over the past two years,” said Gibson. “And it’s easy. Cash, check, or put it on plastic at Magnet. Or make a donation online at magnetsf.org. Are you up to the challenge?”