ART: Wildcard presents SUPERS***S: Art from the Staff of The Andy Warhol Museum

SUPERS***S

During the 60's, Andy Warhol made hundreds of films, screen tests, and other forms of art with the help of his entourage made up of glamor girls, starving artists, poets, models, actors, and drag queens - a unique clique of people he called his "Superstars." Though these Superstars were a less than aristocratic or ultra-famous group of people, they were certainly very unique from the other and fabulous in their own way. Andy and his group of Superstars created a whole movement known as "Pop." As the sixties ended, Andy and his Superstars parted ways one by one and left their footprint in art history, forever.

Warhol and some of the Superstars

 Now, most of Warhol's work and clues as to what life was like when he and the Superstars took over the art world in 60's, is all neatly organized and chronologically ordered at The Andy Warhol Museum. Known as one of the biggest tourist attractions Pittsburgh has to offer, the museum is home to seven floors of Warhol's work and also includes work by modern artists that are conducive to what Warhol had done during his life.  I had the pleasure of working as a Gallery Attendant (GA - as we call them) at the museum for a little over 2 years. While working there I met the most interesting group of people I've ever known. Each of them had a unique "something" about them, all so talented,creative and quite fashionable.  We were a group of about 10 - 15 people all hired to appreciate, communicate, and protect Warhol's work and then by night, artists ourselves.  Some of us paint, some collage, some screen print, others photograph, and some of us just observe and record. 

SUPERS***S show at Wildcard

What better way to express the parallelism between the GAs and the Superstars, than an art show featuring work by the GAs? The show opened last week at Wildcard in Lawrenceville, titled SUPERS***S, so not to be mistaken with the actual Superstars and left for a little naughty interpretation.  SUPERS***S features art by Warhol Gallery Attendants (and past GAs): Adrienne Rozzi, Joel Brown, Matthew Robinson, Erin Phillips, Ryan Emmett, Katie Watson, and Kathleen Guzowski.

Curator Elliot McNally

Wildcard focuses on art by local artists and crafters.  Not only does it act as a great gallery space, but it also sells stationary, clothing, bags, jewelery, trinkets, gift wrapping supplies and interesting baubles.

Photographer Matthew Robinson

Screen printer and artist Adrienne Rozzi.

......and her amazing shoes!

Surrealist collager Joel Brown

Collages by Joel Brown

A good crowd for the opening!

Artist Erin Phillips

Artist Kathleen Guzowski

Wildcard is located at 4209 Butler St. Come see the SUPERS***S gallery and this amazing shop!

EVENTS: Steve Emmett: Internal Reflections ***Plus - More Art Shows Coming Up!!!***

Jerome in Cottonwood by Steve Emmett (1995)

Steve Emmett was not a portriat painter.  However his work does express the human condition and brings a familiarity to anyone viewing his work. He was a painter (oils mostly), a print maker, and a professor at Edinboro Univeristy of drawing, painting and 2D design. Steve Emmett passed away in 2008, and now his son Ryan is keeping his art alive by showcasing his father's work.  His latest gallery titled "Steve Emmett: Internal Reflections," will be opening (tomorrow) Friday January 13th  at 6pm and running until  February 19th at 707 Gallery on Penn Ave.

Ryan Emmett, Curator of Internal Reflections and son of Steve Emmett

"I don't like the idea of memorializing," Ryan says. He wanted to showcase Steve's work in a more realistic and cognitive sort of way.  This stems from an observation Ryan and his mother came to while going through Steve's paintings: that his work consistently featured solitary male figures. The reason for this is unknown, and though Ryan has his theories, he prefers to leave it open ended for the viewer. 

At first glance, Steve Emmett's work is colorful, somewhat humerous, and humanistic.  But then when observed at a closer perspective, you will find all sorts of mysteries.  "He would leave a painting alone for a month then say 'I don't like it' and completely paint over it - so there's like these ghost-like figures [in the background] from past paintings," says Ryan.  Steve would say "It's only paintings, nobody died on the operating table."



Roam by Steve Emmett (1991)

  Steve's use of color is somewhat similar to South Western, Native American art, it only seems fitting that his biggest inspirations were Native American artist Fritz Scholder and Bay Area painter Nathan Oliveira. "He was very aware of his influence of the Bay Area Figure Painters, but he always wanted to expand beyond that," says Ryan.  Steve Emmett: Internal Reflections is said to be a show that focuses on the humanistic value of Steve Emmett's work and the mysterious meanings behind his paintings. 


MORE ART SHOWS COMING UP:

Andy Warhol's Superstars were an elite clique of personalities that gained notoriety and fame through thier association with the infamous artist. They were heavily featured in Warhol's early works and lived their lives immersed in the NYC art scene. The staff at the Andy Warhol Museum are similarly immersed in the Pittsburgh art community.  They are a (less than) elite clique of personalities that have 2 things in common: they have worked as caretakers of Warhol's art by day and as fine artists by night.  The show opens (also tomorrow) Friday January 13th at 6pm at Wildcard on Butler St. 
 For more information click here

Local Artist Danny Devine hosts his first solo show since 2008, Heaven With The Lid Off.  The show will feature drawings, paintings, and photos depicting the artist's favorite aspects of Pittsburgh and pays homage to what was once Industrial Pittsburgh.  It will open on Saturday, January 21 at Blasfome Store in the Southside.