At St. John the Baptist Byzantine Catholic Cemetery in Bethel Park, a south suburb of Pittsburgh, Andy Warhol is doing somersaults in his coffin. Okay, that is a bit of a stretch and perhaps I should explain myself.
Last evening I met my good friend Brian Barnicle at Rotofugi Gallery (Rotofugi Designer Toy Store & Gallery) 2780 N Lincoln Ave, Chicago for Playboy Redux Contemporary Artists Interpret the Iconic Playboy Bunny a showcase of paintings, drawings, sculptures and photographs from 33 artists celebrates the Playboy Bunny and Playboy Club’s 50th anniversary.
It was advertised that Playmate and Chicago native Christina Santiago hosts the opening reception on Aug. 27 (includes photo ops, music and free appetizers). Well if hosting duties meant standing and talking to one or 2 attendees in the toy store portion of the gallery, then she did a fine job. As far as appetizers I only saw the occasional case of flavored soda brought out of the back room and didn’t see it presented or available anywhere. Now considering this was a reception my friend and I dressed up our attire a bit, that is a given when attending an art gallery reception. Nobody else seemed to consider that. Instead there were swarms of hipsters hanging around the store section, occasionally wandering through the gallery side Something that would have shaken, a very fashion aware Warhol from his tomb.
Why the Warhol reference again you may ask, well allow me to elaborate.
Originally hosted in Pittsburgh at the Andy Warhol Museum (where I once worked) the spirit of Hugh Hefner infused the opening of “Playboy Redux” bringing nearly two dozen contemporary artists together to reinterpret the Playboy Bunny icon for the occasion. In grand Pittsburgh style the invite boasting a “pajamas encouraged” dress code resulted in a line that stretched outside the doors of the Andy Warhol Museum and snaked its way around the block. Although greatly missed was the presence of the man, the myth, the legend (who will celebrate his 84th birthday in April), the games officially began once Playmates Laurie Fetter (Miss May 2003) and Lindsey Vuolo (Miss November 2001), made their whiplash-inducing appearances to 400 tailgaters.
The exhibit which ran March 27 through June 20 is part of Playboy Magazine’s global celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Playboy Bunny and Playboy Clubs. The Warhol was chosen because of Andy’s ties to the magazine (his work was featured several times, including on the cover).
I had originally planned for over a month to attend the Girlie Q presentation of Cirque Du So-Geigh at Mary’s Attic in Andersonville, however due to my ties with both Warhol and Playboy, I opted a few days prior to change my commitment. Something that I very early after my entering the Rotofugi Gallery had come to regret. I was not greeted by anyone, and as far as I could tell there was nobody to greet or guide any of the patrons through the exhibit. It took me a good 10 minutes to locate a program or a artists list and title sheet, which I later found on the far back ledge of the gallery’s rear entrance. Where a DJ played hip hop at a comfortable volume I should add. Warhol and Hip hop eh? I would understand it if it had anything to do with the Andy Warhol/ Jean-Michel Basquiat collaboration, but it didn’t. In fact as I later figured out on my own, it had little to do with Playboy itself, but all about bunnies which is a staple of Hipster art culture. In fact at the Rotofugi Gallery most of their toys and art seem to center around what I learned are actually their Dunny’s.
DUNNY’s
Are you confused, I certainly am. And more confused I was happened to do with the attendees who stood in front of the art chatting with one another and not moving for the near dozen or so photographers attempting to record the exhibit via camera.
Overall, the Warhol Museums good name should have never been brought into the publicity for the showing. It’s not in the museum and many of the pieces have already been sold. Prices ranged from a Frank Kozik selling for a mere $300 to Tara McPherson Oil on Linen work titled Playboy Bunny for $22,500.
And again, it was the hipster element, one that is quickly invading every nook of the Chicago scene. I noticed not only is it limited to certain events, but also as browsing Chicago Scene’s website this morning they’ve also infected the upper scale top notch night spots. What happened to our once fashion conscious city? Why have we let ourselves deteriorate when it comes to fashion art and music. When I moved here in 98 it was because this once powerful city was a mecca for the arts and fashion, not to mention a once cutting edge music scene. The radio stations are lackluster and 3rd rate, the local music scene follows trends as opposed to setting them, and the fashion which for the men at least who are not Hipsters is limited to untucked stripped shirts, blue jeans and square toed dress shoes topped off with a silly faux hawk or haircut featuring that stupid fucking flip in front. Where is what is considered eclectic? My guess if it’s true that there is power in numbers then it is safer to be part of the flock rather than to run with the wolves. I’m not even going to touch on how I feel the populace of the fairer of the sexes have become so cookie cutter. Jeeze!
In closing I’d like to say that I mean no offense whatsoever to the people that own and operate Rotofugi Gallery at their new location. I recall the smaller store over in East Village, and they’ve obviously found their niche and are enjoying success. My biggest disappointment is what I’ve seen Chicago turn into, and I priase the concept of DEVO once again this month, De-Evolution is upon us.
I really need to get back to the MCA for First Friday soon.
Whatever there be of progress in life comes not through adaptation but through daring. - Henry Miller
- az
