Baltimore Musuem of Art- Warhol Late Night Party. Photo by Mariana Sevilla.
Warhol Late Night Party at BMA
Take a world class art museum, an all night disco, a battle of wits to the death, the spirit of Andy Warhol and mix them together to produce an intoxicating cocktail we like to call “unparalleled awesomeness.” Recently, the usually quiet spaces in the BMA were transformed from the hallowed halls of one of our most respected cultural institutions into the setting of one of the most scintillating parties of the year. Intrigued? You bet your ass you are.
This isn’t your 15 minutes of fame, people. This is What Weekly.
Warhol Late Night Party at BMA
Photo by Mariana Sevilla
Richard Goldberg, Melissa Wimbish and Steven Krill
Warhol Late Night began with a play called ‘Three Andys’ preformed by Single Carrot Theatre. Playwright, Rich Espy, explored the reaming from critics, the depression of not fitting into the art world and the darkly comic worldview which with Warhol dealt and perpetuated throughout his life. The play, at times, was an uproarious, upbeat comedy that shifts seamlessly into a dark and depressing portrayal of one of the most iconic artists of 20th century.
Photo by Mariana Sevilla, story by Peter Cardamone.
Photo by Mariana Sevilla
Later we met up with one of several Andy Warhols, Carl Stevens. Carl/Andy had the skinny on the evening’s happenings and was kind enough to provide us guidance.
Photo by Mariana Sevilla, story by Peter Cardamone.
Photo by Mariana Sevilla
We boogied on over to the most excellent all night disco since Studio 54 shut its doors. Superflydisco brought the funk in dump trucks and shook rumps without mercy leaving partygoers stunned and stoked all at once.
Photo by Mariana Sevilla, story by Peter Cardamone.
Photo by Mariana Sevilla
Before we left we had to have the full Warhol experience, and what better way to do this then see some of his actual work which included a 25 foot tall Rorschach painting and two different last supper interpretations the length of a basketball court. I had the opportunity to talk to Anne E. Mannix, Director of Communications at the BMA, the day before to get a pragmatic explanation of what one could expect to glean from this particular Warhol exhibit. She said it is important to view the last decade of Warhol’s work because, “You see how Warhol in later in life was still developing as an artist. You see someone who is still pushing himself as an artist and that should be motivating to any young or aspiring artist.”
Photo by Mariana Sevilla, story by Peter Cardamone.
Photo by Mariana Sevilla
Conjuring images of Tony Manero with fingers pointed to the sky everyone dressed the part, either in Halloween garb or late 70’s attire. The get down occurred at Fox Court right across from one of Rodin’s famous Thinkers who was probably wishing he were a little less cerebral for once.
Photo by Mariana Sevilla, story by Peter Cardamone.
Photo by Mariana Sevilla
After seeing the mind and ethos of Andy Warhol the looming sentiment was to walk in the shoes of the man and try our hand at creating art in the same vein. Everyone from art professors and students to children, who have only wielded the mighty power of the crayon, tried screen pressing different Warhol inspired prints.
Photo by Mariana Sevilla, story by Peter Cardamone.
Photo by Mariana Sevilla
Amid the abstraction we found inspiration in the communal creation of art and a memory fond enough to savor.
Photo by Mariana Sevilla, story by Peter Cardamone.
Photo by Mariana Sevilla
Marybeth Halon as Dorothy from the ‘Wizard of Oz’ with Don Mullins who just happens to be the winner of this week’s prestigious and highly coveted, ‘We’re Not Sure What You’re Supposed To Be Dressed As and We’re Not Sure That You Even Know Either But You’ve Proven What We’ve Long Suspected, That Everything Goes Great With Leopard Print, Even Pink Cowboy Hats, Gold Boxer Shorts and Whatever It Is That You Have Around Your Neck,’ award.
Great job, though Center Stage just called and they want the key to their wardrobe room back.
Photo by Mariana Sevilla, story by Peter Cardamone.
Photo by Mariana Sevilla
The evening ended as all good parties should, with a deathmatch; a Literary Deathmatch to be precise. With little warning we were made witnesses to an epic battle of lyrics and verse as two parties, one poets and one fiction writers, battled it out for true literary supremacy.
The judges who would be giving the metaphorical “thumbs up/down” were: William P. Tandy judged for literary merit, ellen cherry who in the vien of e.e. cummings rebels against grammar by not capitalizing her name) judged performance and Shodekeh judged on intangibles. The two fiction writers ready to die for glory, country, and hopefully improved book sales were Daniel Wallace, author of Big Fish, went up against James Magruder, a playwright, translator and fiction writer.
Photo by Mariana Sevilla, story by Peter Cardamone.
Photo by Mariana Sevilla
Stephanie Barber went axe to sword against Cliff Lynn. Stephanie used leg stretches and yoga tactics and seemed to be winning, but in the end it was Cliff’s interpretive dance to the Campbell’s tomato soup song that put him over the top.
Photo by Mariana Sevilla, story by Peter Cardamone.
Photo by Mariana Sevilla
Cliff Lynn threw off his shirt and revealed the legendary champion hidden inside.
Photo by Mariana Sevilla, story by Peter Cardamone.
Photo by Mariana Sevilla
Though he battled valiantly Magruder could not pull off the win; that illustrious victory went to Daniel Wallace. Then the battle for dominance in the world of rhythm and rhyme (poetry) took place. The overall winner and conqueror of literature, decided after a who’s who of Baltimore quiz, was again Daniel Wallace.
Photo by Mariana Sevilla, story by Peter Cardamone.
Photo by Mariana Sevilla
Photo by Mariana Sevilla.
