Unseen Warhol

Rating:
Summary: Touched by an Andy
Review: The editorial review is misleading. This book is not a catalogue of "unseen Warhol work". Many of the examples used are well known pieces. The unseen Warhol implied by the title, comes from the different sides of his personality that are revealed by the numerous people interviewed. Most everyone interviewed manages to reveal something about themselves as well as about Andy. Tama Janowitz tells the inside story of Andy's Blind Date Club and reveals the loneliness of being single. Maura Moynihan, the rebel punk girl, from Democratic royality, finds a father figure in Andy. Ronnie Cutrone, Andy's painting assistant for many years, explains what it was like to be there and participate in the creation of so many of Andy's masterpieces. Most everyone speaks with gratitude and appreciation on how much their lives have been enriched by their relationship with Warhol. But then there's Bob Colacello, obsessing about the "wonders" of Nancy Reagen and complaining how the original idea for the musical Evita was stolen from him by Robert Stigwood. In the end, the praise and gratitude win and the bitterness is kept to a minimum in this well designed and enlightening book.

Rating:
Summary: get smart here
Review: There are lots of people who are very stupid about andy warhol. I am in love with him. I am so excited to find this book because along with the philosophy of andy warhol it seems to be getting at his personality. And this book is a bit easier to understand than the philosophy because it is interviews with people who tell stories about what they thought was important about their friend. So, get it and get andy warhol a little bit better.

Rating:
Summary: 4 Stars for every one else, 5 for hardcore Warholians
Review: This book is a genuine pleasure to read, and a trove of insights into an Andy Warhol that really hasn't been masticated to death in every other book about Warhol. It was compiled by two relatively late-comers to the Warhol scene (Ming Vase, and one of the Artistic Directors of 'Interview'), but it encompasses aspects of Andy from his first days in New York right up to the end. The construction of the book is such that each chapter is based around the discussion of experiences and impressions of Andy and the Andy 'scene' by various individuals who worked with, socialized with, or dealt with Andy. Some of these narrators are people so peripheral to Andy's orbit that only the hardcore Warholphiliac will recognize their names. Others are people whose names come up in even the most casual examination of Andy Warhol's life and work, and a couple are people whom no one has heard of. Because the authors know many of the subjects of the book the discussions can take on the aspect of intimate conversation. This is nice, especially to one who has vicariously lived the events spoken of through deep immersion in the literature and media surrounding Andy Warhol and the Pop Art Explosion he detonated. This is one of the best books about Andy that was not written by him, and if you are right into his art and life then it is a must read. If there is any theme that the authors of the book wish to stress it is that Andy was a spiritual person. I'm unsure if their efforts convinced me, but I must say that they revealed facets of the Andy Warhol experience that heretofore I was not aware of.