See Warhol Exhibit at the Frist

By Sarai Johnson

Andy Warhol, a leading force in art and culture in the 1960’s- ‘80’s, has come to The Frist in Downtown Nashville. The exhibit, Warhol Live: Music and Dance in Andy Warhol’s Work opens June 24. Whether you are a fan of Warhol’s Pop art or not, the exhibit is not something you’ll want to miss. From a room with silver balloons like those from Warhol’s legendary Silver Factory, to a couch in front of a reel with nonstop footage of Warhol’s muse, Edie Sedgwick, there’s plenty to learn and experience.

The amount of work that Warhol is responsible for is overwhelming. The exhibition features 220 pieces of artwork and is divided into ten major sections, each one focusing on a different phase of Warhol’s career. He designed record covers for some of the most influential record labels of his time, for artists like The Rolling Stones, Liza Minelli, Aretha Franklin, Diana Ross, and even Tchaikovsky’s Swan Lake.

Sampling of music by The Velvet Underground, a band managed by Warhol with best known members, Lou Reed and John Kale who both went on to be successful is incorporated into the exhibition in a room designed to look like a downtown club. The Velvet Underground never quite reached fame under Warhol’s management, but the 10,000 copies of the album that did sell went to people who started bands themselves.

Copies of Warhol’s Interview magazine are also on display in a section entitled fame which allows viewers to understand the artist’s obsession with fame, before moving to a room dotted with portraits of Grace Jones, Prince, Michael Jackson and others, famous quotes by Warhol and the artist’s own wig which at one point he loaned to his good friend, David Bowie to wear in his role as Warhol in the movie Basquiat, about Haitian artist, John Michel Basquiat.

“Some company was recently interested in buying my aura,” reads a quote by the artist. Many of us have never been able to understand, nor fully experience Warhol’s aura, but with a little help from The Frist, we can all take a little trip to the Silver Factory.

For more information call 615/ 244-3340 or visit www.fristcenter.org.