Introduction

As you can probably see, this site is about Andy Warhol. I chose to do my research project on Warhol because I have been interested in him for awhile. I know this might sound stupid, but I became interesed in him be shear accident. I was in Journey's on day and bought a purse and inside the pusre was this letter explaining where the artwork came from. The image ont he bag was a Warhol painting, and that where it all began. Soon after that I kept buying the bags not only because I liked them but becasue they where, as one could say "out there". Everytime I carried on people would ask question or have comments about it. Sot that is the story behind my facination with Warhol. Within this site you will find interesting tid bits of what influenced Warhol, how he created some of his art, and the history of Warhol. If I where able to redo a particular part of the project it would have to be the interaction. I really wish that I could have found somewhere that had actual Warhol art. Overall, I enjoyed the project and hope you will enjoy this site aswell.

Written Response - Obituary

On August 6, 1928 a beautiful baby boy was born to Andrej and Julia Warhola named Andrew Warhola. Raised in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, Andy was unlike his brothers in the since that he enjoyed coloring more than baseball. Falling critically ill early in life with Scarlet Fever, he quickly developed a fascination with Shirley Temple and Mickey Mouse, marking the beginning of his lifelong obsession with celebrities. After grade school Andy attended School of Fine Arts at Carnegie Institute of Technology where he studied in commercial art. In the 50’s Andy began to gain fame with his whimsical advertisement drawings and soon after held his first art show at the Bodley Gallery.
Continuing with his new career as an artist he began using techniques that were not common to the art world. He capitalized on taking iconic figures and in a since Warholizing them. Throughout his career he changed mediums quite often; from canvas to television to video to photography and even writing. Andy was an all around creative person; if he wanted to accomplish something, nothing would hold him back. Later on in life he faced an assassination attempt that only made him stronger. Sadly, after a routine gallbladder surgery Andrew Warhola died due to complications from the surgery. Gone but not forgotten, Andy Warhol leaves behind a timeless legacy that will outlive us all.

Critical Review 10 - Interview

Summary: Anne Frost is an art and photography teacher at Hewitt Trussville High School. She became interested in art as a young child. It was a part of her from the beginning seeing as both her grandmothers where into painting. In the 1960’s Frost became interested in photography due to magazines and her first camera. She said that art had always been a part of her but being married to an artist as well she decided a teaching career would be perfect. I asked her if she had ever considered teaching Warhol techniques in the classroom and she said that she has before and has plans for doing so next year as well.

Response: I had incredibly difficult time finding someone to interview but it turns out there was a perfect candidate right in front of me the whole time. Mrs. Frost was really excited and happy that I chose to interview her. Her responses where great and detailed but hard to incorporate into a summary. I loved it when I asked if was taught about Warhol in college her response was, “LOL! He was still working when I was in college!” I found this response really funny, but I guess I should have asked a more reasonable question.

Frost, Anne. Personal Interview. 4 May 2009.

Critical Review 9 - Live Interaction

Summary: The Birmingham Museum of Art was where I chose to do my live interaction. Filled with amazing art, my family and I saw a ton of stunning pieces. One piece was Bonjour Julie by Joan Mitchell. This particular piece was created in 1971 and was an abstract composition of three canvases covered in different shades of blue, yellow, and orange. Next we saw William Wiley’s Remedial Archeology and the Like. This piece was half colorful and half black and white outlines. Also in the student art we saw Self Portrait by Jordan Acton, which was a portrait with uncommon colors such as yellow on the face and orange on the hair.

Response: Our time at the art museum was fun, but I thought it was almost unnecessary for my project seeing as they did not have any professional art that would remotely resemble Warhol’s. The Student section was where I was surprised to see the painting by Jordan Acton. His picture was classic Warhol. The abstract use of colors in a simple portrait was exactly what I was looking for. All the professional art that I was interested in was considered contemporary but not pop art. As we entered the gift shop we did find merchandise with Warhol prints on it. My sister even bought a Warhol phone book.

Critical Review 8

Summary: Andy Warhol was the third son of Andrej and Julia Warhola. He was never interested in sports unlike his brothers. All the Warhola children had artistic ability but Andy soon outshined his brothers. Falling ill as a child, he endured years of scrutiny from others students when he returned to school. He was ill for a long time causing constant care or a watchful eye from someone. He had an early astonishment with Shirley Temple. He joined her fan club and was obsessed. This marked his lifetime fascination with celebrities. After becoming successful in the art business and making a name for himself, Warhol established the Factory where he mass produced his artwork. After his sudden death in the late 80’s, his estate was sold marking the long gone but never forgotten Andy Warhol.

Review: This book was helpful, I guess. It was kind of redundant from everything else I’ve read so far, but there’s nothing I can really do. It did however; explain Warhol’s obsession with celebrities and his fascination with Shirley Temple and Mickey Mouse. In the book the authors recall a story the brothers and shared. They said that they were playing baseball and Andy was an outfielder. When someone hit the ball to where he was no one was there. It then said that “I later found him sitting in front of the house drawing flowers.” That’s just how Warhol was from an early age, passionate about art.

Greenberg, Jan, and Sandra Jordan. Andy Warhol Prince of Pop. New York: Delacorte Press, 2004.

Critical Review 7

Summary: The Warhol art brand has outlived the time in which it a was expected. His style of art set chaos through the world of Modern Art as they knew it. Through his art, the distinction between business, reality, art, life, and work where demolished, this is why his legacy is still in today’s society. Now in today’s day and age, photo shop will let you recreate his style, and had he been here to witness this, he would know exactly how to harbor the market and make it his own. Not only has it been made easy to recreate Warhol’s art, but it seems as if he has been exhibited in several exhibitions in the past year. And those local artist are still mesmerized and intrigued at how he made such a difference in the art world. One exhibit is in a way combining all the elements of Warhol’s work into a unique gallery. An exhibit of his versatility as an artist. Focusing on the musical influences in his career, one key person would have to be John Cage. The exhibit also asks the viewer to replace the association of Warhol to commercialism and associate him with philosophy.

Response: I chose this article because it seems to focus more on how Warhol is still in our society today. His art is timeless and will forever fit into the image that the world has set. Instead of focusing on the commercial aspect of Warhol, the writer asks for the reader to “replace our reading of Warhol’s pop art as a comment on commercialism with a more deeply aesthetic philosophy.” I agree with this because Warhol thought through his art even if it was a spur of the moment idea. He knew that he had a goal with his art, hence where the philosophy part comes in.
"Andy Warhol." LSM Online. 02 Sept 2008. 8 Apr 2009. .

Critical Response 6

Summary: Born and raised in Pittsburg, Andy Warhol was the son of Slovakian immigrants. Around the age of thirteen, Warhol tragically lost his father in a construction accident. After showing early signs of talent in drawing and painting, he then went on to graduate with a commercial art degree. After school he began work for Harpar’s Bazaar and Vogue, establishing himself in the art world. Once Warhol broke free of the commercial world, he held his first individual exhibition in 1952 at the Hugo Gallery in New York. Then in 1956 he had another exhibition at the Museum of Modern Art. In the sixties he began painting everyday mass/consumer products such as the coke bottle and Campbell’s soup can. Then in 1962 he began silk screening famous people such as Monroe. Not only did he recreate images of mass production products but he also wanted to mass produce his works. To accomplish this he created his studios know as the Factory. It was not only his art studio but also a film studio for Warhol’s next move. In July of 1968, Warhol was shot which nearly cost him his life. After this attempt to take his life, Warhol had a radical change in his career where he now focused on individual portraits of well know people. A little into Warhol as a person: he was gay and loved cats. He was a workaholic and was determined to become rich and famous. Tragically he died in 1987.

Response: Like some of my other sources, this article focused on Warhol’s career through stages in his art. Fortunately it was much easier to read than most of the other sources. I think that is due to the way the site is broken down in chunks of information rather than a straight essay type work. However, this author portrayed Warhol’s personality as one who was all about fame and fortune and before it seemed as if he was genuine person. I also liked that the author chose to throw in quotes to express their point. One thing the author said about Warhol’s videos was that they were, “rather bizarre and some rather pornographic.” I never got that from any other site and truly do not want to believe that! However, I’m not going to sort through all his crazy films to find out.

Wanczura, Dieter. "Andy Warhol-1928-1987." Artelino. Mar 2009. 8 Apr 2009. .