“Warhol On the Mall”: A Fall Celebration Hosted by the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden and the National Gallery of Art
An array of public programs arrived on the National Mall this fall in celebration of artist Andy Warhol (1928–1987), who radically shifted traditional boundaries between fine art and popular culture. "Warhol On the Mall" is a joint celebration on the occasion of two exhibitions: "Andy Warhol: Shadows" at the Smithsonian's Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden (Sept. 25–Jan. 15, 2012) and "Warhol: Headlines" at the National Gallery of Art in Washington (Sept. 25–Jan. 2, 2012).
To accompany "Andy Warhol: Shadows," the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden has a range of events, including an evening lecture series with noted artists and scholars titled "Talking About Andy," film programs, Hirshhorn After Hours, gallery talks, workshops for teens and a "Directions" exhibition featuring Warhol's film "Empire" and two contemporary artworks inspired by the original. In conjunction with the exhibition "Warhol: Headlines," the National Gallery of Art offers film programs for all ages, concerts, a multimedia performance by Dean & Britta, gallery talks, a symposium and lectures with noted artists and scholars, and teacher and student studio workshops.
Hirshhorn programs are free and open to the public and located in the museum's Ring Auditorium unless otherwise noted. All National Gallery of Art programs are free of charge in the East Building Auditorium unless otherwise noted. Seating is available on a first-come, first-served basis at both locations.
Lecture Programs
"Time Frames: Andy Warhol's Film & Video"
National Gallery of Art
Sunday, Dec. 4; 2 p.m.
John Hanhardt, senior curator for media arts, Smithsonian American Art Museum
"Talking About Andy: Hal Foster"
Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden
Thursday, Sept. 29; 7 p.m.
Hal Foster, art historian and chair of the department of art and archaeology, Princeton University
"In the Shadows"
Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden
Tuesday, Oct. 25; 7 p.m.
Second Level Galleries
Exhibition walk-through exploring Warhol's monumental artwork and career from a range of perspectives. Speakers include Dia Art Foundation curator Yasmil Raymond and Glenn O'Brien, a member of Andy Warhol's Factory and former editor of Interview magazine.
"Talking About Andy: Kara Walker"
Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden
Wednesday, Jan. 11; 7 p.m.
Kara Walker, artist
Related Exhibition
"Directions: Empire3"
Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden
Nov. 10–Feb. 26, 2012
On May 1, 1931, at a dedication ceremony in Washington, D.C., President Herbert Hoover hit a button that symbolically turned on the lights of the Empire State Building in New York City. This fall, the nation's capital again illuminates this iconic structure with the presentation of three time-based media responses by Andy Warhol, Douglas Gordon and Wolfgang Staehle.
On July 25, 1964, Warhol positioned himself on the 44th floor of the Time-Life Building to film the Empire State Building overnight, resulting in the masterpiece of static cinema called "Empire." In 1997, while living in Berlin, Gordon stealthily videotaped two hours of Warhol's original film at a public exhibition, later releasing it as "Bootleg (Empire)." In 1999, Staehle mirrored Warhol's efforts with a digital still camera, streaming his study, "Empire 24/7," via live webcast. These three works will be featured side by side in the Directions galleries on the Third Level of the Hirshhorn.
Public Symposium
"Warhol: Headlines"
National Gallery of Art
Saturday, Oct. 22; 2 p.m.
Illustrated lectures by noted scholars, including Thomas Crow, the Rosalie Solow Professor of Modern Art and associate provost for the arts, Institute of Fine Arts, New York University; Jonathan Flatley, associate professor of English, Wayne State University; Neil Printz, editor of The Andy Warhol Catalogue Raisonné; artist Fred Tomaselli; and exhibition curator Molly Donovan, associate curator of modern and contemporary art, National Gallery of Art.
Hirshhorn After Hours
Friday, Oct. 14; 8 p.m.–midnight
Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden
After Hours celebrates "Andy Warhol: Shadows" this fall with gallery talks, live music and special performances on the Plaza.
Tickets are on sale in advance only at www.hirshhorn.si.edu/afterhours.
Concerts
National Gallery of Art New Music Ensemble
National Gallery of Art, East Building Auditorium
Wednesday, Nov. 9; 12:10 p.m.
Music by Steve Antosca, Ross Karre, and other composers
"13 Most Beautiful . . . Songs for Andy Warhol's Screen Tests"
National Gallery of Art, East Building Atrium
Saturday, Nov. 12; 4 p.m.
Dean & Britta in performance
Dean Wareham and Britta Phillips present the Washington debut of their performance "13 Most Beautiful . . . Songs for Andy Warhol's Screen Tests," with songs composed on guitar and keyboard to the backdrop of Warhol's "13 Most Beautiful" black-and-white silent screen tests. The mesmerizing images, filmed in the Silver Factory in the mid-1960s, align the glamour of Hollywood with the art world. Among the subjects are "Baby" Jane Holzer, Dennis Hopper, Lou Reed and Edie Sedgwick. The program was commissioned by the Andy Warhol Museum in Pittsburgh. (approximately 60 minutes)
Verdehr Trio
National Gallery of Art, West Building Lecture Hall
Wednesday, Nov. 23; 12:10 p.m.
Music for violin, clarinet, and piano by Warhol contemporaries Michael Daugherty, Alan Hovhaness and Gian Carlo Menotti, and the world premiere of a new work by David Winkler inspired by Warhol's "Beethoven."
Film Events
"Jean-Michel Basquiat: The Radiant Child"
National Gallery of Art
Saturday, Oct. 1; 2:30 p.m.
Introduction by Tamra Davis
Filmmaker Tamra Davis recorded hours of video with her friend Basquiat. Years later, she conceived and edited a feature portrait of this expressionistic artist who, in retrospect, was one of the most important chroniclers of the downtown New York scene in the 1980s. Basquiat's milieu—his studio, his friends, his collaboration with Andy Warhol—and his frequent encounters with the media—are all treated in this illuminating film. (Tamra Davis, 2010, 35 mm, 88 minutes)
"Andy Warhol: A Documentary Film"
Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden
Sunday, Oct. 2; 11 a.m. (Part One) and 2 p.m. (Part Two)
Sunday, Nov. 6; 11 a.m. (Part One) and 2 p.m. (Part Two)
Extensive documentary narrated by Laurie Anderson with interviews by Irving Blum, Bob Colacella, Dave Hickey, Jeff Koons, Wayne Koestenbaum, Paul Morrissey, George Plimpton and others. (Ric Burns, 2006, DVD, 240 minutes)
"Pie in the Sky: The Brigid Berlin Story"
National Gallery of Art
Wednesday, Dec. 28; 12:30 p.m.
Brigid Berlin, daughter of Richard E. Berlin who ran the Hearst Publishing empire for three decades, rejected her blue-blood background to become part of Warhol's Factory in the 1960s, and remained a Warhol confidante until his death. In film footage, she is candid about family relationships, friendships with Warhol and company, and lifelong struggles with weight problems and other challenges: "I didn't ask to be born. This is what they got, so this is what they got to contend with." (Shelly Dunn Fremont and Vincent Fremont, 2000, 35 mm, 75 minutes)
"Notes on Marie Menken"
National Gallery of Art
Thursday, Dec. 29; 12:30 p.m.
Marie Menken (1909–1970), New York underground filmmaker once nicknamed "the mother of the avant-garde," inspired every artist who knew her. Loaded with excerpts of her beautifully abstract works, Notes on Marie Menken also features footage from "Duel of the Bolexes," a home movie of Andy Warhol and Marie on a New York rooftop. Her turbulent relationship with husband Willard Maas was allegedly the source for Edward Albee's Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? (Martina Kudlácek, 2006, 35 mm, 97 minutes)
"Beautiful Darling: The Life and Times of Candy Darling"
National Gallery of Art
Friday, Dec. 30; 12:30 p.m.
The incredible career of Warhol Factory superstar Candy Darling (James Lawrence Slattery) is brought to life through vintage interviews, archival footage, photographs and clips of former Warhol regulars. Actress Chloë Sevigny embodies Darling's voice, reading from letters and diaries. (James Rasin, 2010, 35 mm, 85 minutes)
"Andy Warhol:16 mm"
National Gallery of Art
Saturdays, Oct. 1–Dec. 31 (times vary)
In association with the exhibition "Andy Warhol: Headlines," a range of Warhol's 16mm films relating to the headline theme is screened on Saturdays through the end of the year. The schedule includes "Soap Opera," "Outer and Inner Space," "Lupe, Since, Space, Afternoon," "Velvet Underground and Nico," "Chelsea Girls" and "John and Ivy."
See calendar pages for times and www.nga.gov for specific titles and dates.
Teen Programs
ARTLAB+
"Art Breakers"
Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden's ArtLab
Oct. 3–Dec. 5
Tuesdays, 4 p.m.–6 p.m.
Appropriation, hacking, remixing and modding: Andy Warhol experimented with some of these techniques and practices in the creation of his artwork. Over the course of eight weeks, teens explore "Andy Warhol: Shadows" to answer questions such as these: What does it mean to take an object, image or idea out of its original context and place it in a new one? Is a favorite song, artwork or video game actually a modded version of an older work by another artist? How does the choice of media for the remix affect the message?
Teens work in teams to articulate answers to these questions, and create an original artwork based a found object from home and a piece in the Hirshhorn's collection. They will receive training on all of the ArtLab's tools, including video and digital cameras, video- and photo-editing software, and animation programs, in order to create their remixes. To register and learn more about Hirshhorn teen programs, visit http://artlabplus.si.edu/artlabplus/.
The ArtLab space and ARTLAB+ programs are members of the YOUmedia Network, which is funded by the MacArthur Foundation, and in partnership with the New Learning Institute, which is funded by the Pearson Foundation.
High School Studio Workshop: "Warhol: Headlines"
National Gallery of Art
Dates throughout Oct., Nov. and Dec.
10 a.m.–12:30 p.m.
For full schedule, visit http://www.nga.gov/programs/teens/
High School Studio Workshops will focus on the exhibition "Warhol: Headlines," opening Sept. 25 and the first to explore Warhol's fascination with the theme of headlines, particularly those found in the tabloid press. Through a variety of techniques—painting, drawing, prints, photographs and video—students will see how Warhol altered and reoriented original texts and images to recreate the meaning of contemporary events.
These two-part workshops include in-depth examination and discussion of works of art in the exhibition, followed by a related one-hour studio activity. Workshops are taught by museum educators specially trained for this program, who will encourage students to look carefully at the art and share their reactions, formulate theories based on observations and make connections between art and life. Students should come to the workshop prepared to participate in group discussion.
Following the gallery discussion, students will create a work of art inspired by the subjects and techniques encountered on the tour. The studio project will reinforce what students discover during their tour, as they approach the main ideas from a different point of view—as creators.
A minimum of 20 participants is required to reserve a date; up to 30 students may participate in a single workshop. A single school may request no more than two workshop dates.
To register, visit http://www.nga.gov/education/highschool/register_hssw.shtm.
Film Program for Children
"Scribble, Dot, Pop!"
National Gallery of Art
Saturdays, Dec. 3 and 10; 10:30 a.m.
Sundays, Dec. 4 and 11; 11:30 a.m.
Ages 4 and up
Enjoy a series of animated films celebrating the unique qualities that artists of all ages and experiences share. Explore the life and art of Warhol in the fun and gentle film Getting to Know the World's Greatest Artists: Andy Warhol (Mike Venezia, USA, 2007, 24 minutes), which presents a family-friendly biography of Warhol and an introduction to pop art. Also included are the short films Art (Konstantin Bronzit, USA, 2008, 6 minutes), the tale of a young boy who joyfully scribbles and doodles his way to a masterpiece; "Asthma Tech" (Jonathan Ng, Canada, 2006, 7 minutes), the story of an asthmatic boy who discovers that his imagination has the power to bridge gaps; and "The Dot" (Gary Goldberger, USA, 2004, 7 minutes), which encourages children to believe in themselves and their art.
Teacher Workshop
J. Carter Brown Memorial Evening with Educators: "Warhol: Headlines"
National Gallery of Art, East Building Concourse, Education Studio
Wednesday, Nov. 2; 4–7:30 p.m.
Based on the exhibition "Warhol: Headlines," this evening event explores Andy Warhol's career-long obsession with the sensational side of mass media. The headline motif is traced though approximately 80 works in various media, including the Gallery's "A Boy For Meg" (1962), one of his earliest paintings inspired by tabloid news. A major yet previously unexplored theme spanning Warhol's entire career, the headline figures prominently in many of his works dealing with celebrity, death, disaster, contemporary events and the artist as subject. Educators can tour the exhibition (on view at the Gallery, Sept. 25–Jan. 2, 2012) and enjoy food, wine and conversation with colleagues. Fee: $10. Registration required; visit www.nga.gov/education/teacher.shtm#register.
The fee is waived for first-time participants and for past participants registering with a K–12 teacher new to Gallery programs.
Gallery Talks at the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden
Fridays at 12:30 p.m., half-hour gallery talks focused on "Andy Warhol: Shadows" and other works on view will be led by curators, educators, artists, writers and scholars from a variety of fields. Visit www.hirshhorn.si.edu for current listings of upcoming talks. Interpretive guides are available in the galleries to answer questions about the exhibition from 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Tuesdays through Sundays. Highlights tours are available on the weekends at 12:30 p.m.
Gallery Talks at the National Gallery of Art
Regular public tours of "Warhol: Headlines" will be offered by the adult programs department of the education division. For times and topics, please consult the bimonthly calendar of events or the gallery talk section of the National Gallery of Art website at www.nga.gov/programs/galtalks.
Audio Tour
National Gallery of Art Director Earl A. Powell III introduces this tour of "Warhol: Headlines," which includes commentary by Neil Printz, editor of The Andy Warhol Catalogue Raisonné; Matt Wrbican, archivist, The Andy Warhol Museum in Pittsburgh; and exhibition curator Molly Donovan, department of modern and contemporary art, National Gallery of Art. Rental at the entrance of the exhibition: $5.
Gallery Shops at the National Gallery of Art
In addition to the full-color "Warhol: Headlines" exhibition catalog, the Gallery shops will feature a wide selection of related books about the life and work of Warhol. Other items will include a wall calendar featuring works of art by Warhol; the Peabody Award-winning film on DVD American Masters: Andy Warhol: A Documentary Film; a music CD by the Velvet Underground; and a selection of small-sized art reproductions. Related gift items such as a tote bag, Fiestaware mug and luncheon plates in four different colors, disco ball ornament, and an assortment of postcards, notecards, holiday greetings cards, and stationery accessories will also be available.
Visit the Gallery Shops in person, browse online at www.shop.nga.gov, call (800) 697-9350 or
(202) 842-6002, fax (202) 789-3047 or email mailorder@nga.gov.
About the Exhibitions
"Andy Warhol: Shadows"
For the first time ever, all 102 paintings of Warhol's monumental artwork "Shadows"
(1978–1979) are shown together at the Smithsonian's Hirshhorn Museum, from Sept. 25 to Jan. 15, 2012. Hung edge-to-edge, these silkscreened and hand-painted canvases will create a spectacular panorama as they extend uninterrupted nearly two-thirds of the way around the outer perimeter of the Hirshhorn's distinctive curved galleries. "Andy Warhol: Shadows" offers viewers an unprecedented opportunity to see this late work in its entirety and to experience the full power of the artist's vision of producing an immersive environment.
"Andy Warhol: Shadows" is organized by Dia Art Foundation. The foundation acquired the piece from the artist during its inaugural exhibition at the Heiner Friedrich Gallery in New York in 1979, and it has been on long-term view at Dia:Beacon since 1993. Major exhibition funding is provided by the Bell Family Foundation and Constance R. Caplan with additional support from the Holenia Trust Fund, in memory of Joseph H. Hirshhorn, the Friends of Jim and Barbara Demetrion Endowment Fund and the Hirshhorn's Board of Trustees.
"Warhol: Headlines"
The first exhibition to examine as a coherent theme the works Andy Warhol based on news headlines premiered Sept. 25 at the National Gallery of Art in Washington, until Jan. 15, 2012. "Warhol: Headlines" will define and present some 80 "headline works"—paintings, drawings, prints, photographs, sculpture, film, video and television—inspired largely by the tabloid news, revealing the artist's career-long obsession with the sensational side of contemporary news media. Source materials for the art will be presented for comparison, demonstrating the ways in which Warhol cropped, altered, obscured, and reoriented the original texts and images, thus underscoring the artist's role as both editor and author.
After Washington, the exhibition will be on view at the Museum für Moderne Kunst, Frankfurt (Feb. 11–May 13, 2012); Galleria nazionale d'arte moderna, Rome (June 11–Sept. 9, 2012); and The Andy Warhol Museum, Pittsburgh (Oct. 14.–Jan. 6, 2013). The exhibition is organized by the National Gallery of Art in association with The Andy Warhol Museum, the Galleria nazionale d'arte moderna, and the Museum für Moderne Kunst.
The Terra Foundation for American Art is the foundation sponsor of the international tour of the exhibition. The exhibition in Washington is made possible by The Exhibition Circle of the National Gallery of Art. The exhibition is supported by an indemnity from the Federal Council on the Arts and the Humanities.
About the Hirshhorn
The Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden, the Smithsonian Institution's museum of international modern and contemporary art, has nearly 12,000 paintings, sculptures, photographs, mixed-media installations, works on paper and new media works in its collection. The Hirshhorn presents diverse exhibitions and offers an array of public programs that explore modern and contemporary art. Located at Independence Avenue and 7th Street S.W., the museum is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. (except Dec. 25). Admission to the galleries and special programs is free. For more information about exhibitions and events, please visit hirshhorn.si.edu. Follow the Hirshhorn on Facebook at facebook.com/hirshhorn and on Twitter at twitter.com/hirshhorn. To request accessibility services, please contact Kristy Maruca at marucak@si.edu or (202) 633-2796, preferably two weeks in advance.
About The National Gallery of Art
The National Gallery of Art and its Sculpture Garden are at all times free to the public. They are located on the National Mall between Third and Ninth streets at Constitution Avenue N.W., and are open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. The Gallery is closed on Dec. 25 and Jan. 1. For information call (202) 737-4215 or the Telecommunications Device for the Deaf (TDD) at (202) 842-6176, or visit the Gallery's website at www.nga.gov. Follow the Gallery on Facebook at www.facebook.com/NationalGalleryofArt and on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/ngadc.
Visitors will be asked to present all carried items for inspection upon entering. Checkrooms are free of charge and located at each entrance. Luggage and other oversized bags must be presented at the Fourth Street entrances to the East or West Building to permit X-ray screening and must be deposited in the checkrooms at those entrances. For the safety of visitors and the works of art, nothing may be carried into the Gallery on a visitor's back. Any bag or other items that cannot be carried reasonably and safely in some other manner must be left in the checkrooms. Items larger than 17-by-26 inches cannot be accepted by the Gallery or its checkrooms.
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