Alison Ruzsa
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Andy Warhol's Studio
April 2010

The Silver Factory was Andy Warhol’s original New York City studio from 1962 to 1968.
The Factory was located on the fifth floor at 231 East 47th Street, in Midtown Manhattan.

Many famous artists, musicians, drag queens, and wayward socialites visited the “sliver factory”;
named such because of the tin foil and sliver paint covering the walls.
Andy and the Factory quickly became famous for the outrageous drug laden parties
where guest were subjected to “screen tests”. 
 Andy would simply point the camera at them and then leave.
I have used these screen tests, plus countless photos taken at the factory, as inspiration for this work.

The inspiration, once again is a song, which is often the case with me.
The images that come into my mind as I listen to the words and music became the seeds for the work.
I went with 2 songs here
 Andy Warhol, by David Bowie
Walk on the Wild Side by Lou Reed
In the piece are all the characters mentioned in Lou's song.     

Andy Warhol’s Superstars

The Warhol Superstars were a clique of New York City personalities promoted by Andy Warhol during the 1960s and early 1970s.
The Superstars appeared in Warhol's artworks and accompanied him in his social life.
They epitomized Warhol's famous dictum: "In the future everyone will be famous for fifteen minutes." 

Jackie Curtis
Yellow Dress , Born John Curtis holder, he was a pioneer transgendered film star, poet, and playwright. She is the Jackie in Lou Reed’s Walk on the Wild Side.

Billy Name
 White Shirt with Camera, Photographer and  filmmaker Billy was very influential on Andy’s work and was responsible for “silverizing” The Facotry.

Edie Sedgewick
 Purple Dress, Socialite, model, Heiress, considered Andy’s Muse at the factory.

Joe Campbell
 Brown Shirt, Also featured in Walk on the wild Side, Joe was known as the “Sugar Plum Fairy” and the lover of Harvey Milk.

Allen Ginsberg
Blue Shirt, Beatnik Poet.

Jayne Wayne County
 Red Leatherette, born Wayne Rogers , She is a famous transgender performer.

Holly Woodlawn
Green Ballgown, Born Haraldo Danhaki , “Holly came from Miami Fla, Hitchhiked her way across the USA, 
Plucked her Eyebrows on the way, shaved her legs and he was a she”  From Walk on the Wild Side.

Joe Dallensandro
Jean Shorts, Porn Star ,”Little Joe never one gave it away, everybody had to pay and pay” walk on the Wild Side

Miss Viva
 Naked with movie camera, Born Jane Hoffman, She was given the name Viva by Andy.

David Bowie
Brown floppy hat, Rock Star,  Wrote a song about Andy,who reportedly disliked it when Bowie played it for him, Warhol and Bowie reportedly just
stared at each other for a while until Warhol said.  "I like your shoes" and the pair then had a 45 minute conversation about shoes.

Bob Dylan
Fisherman’s Cap,  Born Robert Zimmerman, Songwriter/ singer , activist

Nico
 Striped Shirt, born Christa Päffgen, model, actress, singer , she sang with the velvet underground a pop managed by Warhol

Lou Reed, John Cale
 black shirts and pants, Founding members of The Velvet Underground

Mick Jagger
 White Shirt Brown Pants, Rock Star, Lead Singer of the Rolling Stones

Candy Darling
Black dress, born James Lawrence Slattery, transgender actress, featured in Walk on the Wildside “Candy came from out on the island.

Ultra Violet
Orange and Yellow Outift, Born Isabelle Collin Dufresne, named Ultra Violet by Andy because she normally had some sort of purple hair.

Baby Jane Holzer
 Blue Dress, born jane Brookenfeild,  actress, model,  film producer 

Researched by the Artist, Alison Ruzsa