Now, onto the newest topic on my mind. In the Spring, I'll be taking an Art and philosophy course, and decided to do a little reading, contemplation, and research on my own beforehand.
"I have always had a passionate interest in art and a logical passion for philosophy, but nothing in my experience with either conflicted with the general dismal appraisal of aesthetics, and I am certain I should never have gotten involved with it had I not visited a singular exhibition at what was then the Stable Gallery on East 74th Street in New York in 1964. Andy Warhol had filled the space with piles of Brillo boxes, similar to if somewhat sturdier than those brashly stenciled cartons stacked in the storerooms of supermarkets wherever soap pads are sold. I was familiar of course with the exploitation of emblems of popular and commercial labels by the pop artists, and Warhol's portraits of Campbell's soup cans were legendary. But as someone who came to artistic age in the heroic period of Abstract Expressionism, when decisions for or against The Image were fraught with an almost religious agony, the crass and casual use of tacky images by the new artists seemed irreverent and juvenile. But the Warhol show raised a question which was intoxicating and immediately philosophical, namely why were his boxes works of art while the almost indistinguishable utilitarian cartons were merely containers for soap pads? Certainly the minor observable differences could not ground as grand a distinction as that between Art
.jpg)
and Reality!" [For examples of Warhol's art, click here.][Source]The infamous Campbell's soup can print by Andy Warhol. We all know this print, or some variation of it. The big question is "What, exactly, makes this art?" I think in the present day the masses no longer ask this question. They just accept Warhol as a great, and extremely influential American Pop artist. Creator of The Factory and for bringing models such as Edie Sedgewick or musicians such as The Velvet Underground to light. Honestly, I'm not going to lie. I was once one of those masses, and am actually pretty embarrassed by it, since I consider myself to have a fairly strong art background. Anyway, there I was - one of the masses happily accepting Andy Warhol as great 1960's artist and visionary, putting him on a pedestal so to say, because that's what I felt needed to be done.
My first day of art school, however, that came crashing down. I was there at the meet and greet, mingling and sipping drinks with other student artists from across the country and some great instructors. I found myself sitting at a table with a girl wearing an Andy Warhol printed t-shirt, and the man sitting next to me, holding a cane and wearing neon orange Chuck Taylor High-tops, scowling in her direction. Finally, some one asked him why he had such a sour expression during such a fun time.
To which he replied: "Warhol, you think he's an artist?"
None of us knew what to say, after all we new this man was faculty, or affiliated with school in some way, so none of us wanted to end up putting our foot in our mouth. After an awkward silence some one spoke up.
"Well, yes. He';s one of, if not the greatest American pop artist of that generation. He's an icon, a legend."
The man with the Chucks replied: "A legend. That's bull. Andy Warhol was nothing but an advertiser."
That man with the orange Chuck Taylors [who later in the week I realized that he was my figure drawing professor, and an amazing and successful artist, Brett.] made the wheels in my head start turning that sunny summer day. Was Andy Warhol all we've made him up to be?
To attempt and solve this, I made a list. After all, lists are my go-to. They seem to organize me when I can not, and sort out all of the tangled thoughts in my mind.
Andy Warhol: Advertiser
- Campbell Soup Cans - there are 32, since that is the number of different soups Campbell's had produced in 1962 when the paintings were created.
- Coca-Cola Bottles also in 1962
- Brillo Pad Box Sculpture, mentioned in the above excerpt, in 1964.
- Endangered Species Prints 'Silent Spring' 16, total. Created in 1986.
Andy Warhol: Artist
- 273 Short, sometimes silent films and videos
Andy Warhol: The Grey Area
Brett stated those words over 2 years ago now, and to this day I can not tell you whether or not I think Andy Warhol is and artist or simply an advertiser. Maybe both. Maybe neither. What I can say though, is that one simple sentence was able to change the way I view basically everything, art undoubtedly. I now know, something quite elementary - yet overlooked: stop following the masses in any way, shape, or form.
Side note: I'm aware that this response did not follow the topic given, but it happened to be something that I felt needed to be voiced, from an artist's and student's perspective.
- Portraits of celebrities and other famous people such as Marilyn Monroe, John Wayne, and paintings of Jacqueline Kennedy around the death and mourning of President John F. Kennedy.
Brett stated those words over 2 years ago now, and to this day I can not tell you whether or not I think Andy Warhol is and artist or simply an advertiser. Maybe both. Maybe neither. What I can say though, is that one simple sentence was able to change the way I view basically everything, art undoubtedly. I now know, something quite elementary - yet overlooked: stop following the masses in any way, shape, or form.
Side note: I'm aware that this response did not follow the topic given, but it happened to be something that I felt needed to be voiced, from an artist's and student's perspective.
