I had the pleasure of attending a lunch discussion led by Victor Bockris, a writer who has written biographies of Andy Warhol, Muhammad Ali, and other epic celebrities. After the lunch, he led a group from my synagogue on a tour of the Warhol exhibit at the St. Petersburg Museum of Fine Arts. (The group actually split up, about half following the museum docent and half following Bockris.)
I have to say, the experience was pretty awesome. Bockris is a compelling speaker, and his stories about hanging out with Warhol at The Factory and anecdotes about the artist's life were engaging. The counter culture movement reminds me of my own friends, and it made me think that maybe I should try to record some of my life and own interactions for the future.
The trip also made me think about branding and art. Warhol really opened up the art world to the idea that art can be marketed and openly sold for large amounts of money. He also brought forth the idea that art can be of the modern world and include aspects of pop culture and mass production. He was vilified for it in some circles.
With my writing, my sense of humor, and the people I hold court with, I could easily be considered a hack (I like to get paid!). My whole message could be misunderstood. It's near impossible to control one's image and force the world to grant one's dreams at the same time.
I just realized that I should send a thank you card to Bockris, because the discussion and tour were amazing, and it's not every day you meet someone who lived a history as amazing as Bockris's. Remember kids, etiquette is important!
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