Purple Diary
[December 11 2014]
In Discussion “Warhol’s 13 Most Wanted Men” tomorrow from 7pm at The Warhol, Pittsburgh
The highly influential poet John Giorno, the star of Andy Warhol’s 1963 film “Sleep”, joins The Warhol’s chief archivist Matt Wrbican and assistant curator of film and video Greg Pierce, to discuss the creation and censorship of Andy Warhol’s controversial mural “13 Most Wanted Men” for the 1964 New York World’s Fair. As part of a prominent set of public commissions for the exterior of the Philip Johnson-designed New York State Pavilion, Warhol chose to enlarge mug shots from an NYPD booklet featuring the 13 most wanted criminals of 1962. Forming a massive grid, these 48-inch square panels each featured front and profile views of the subject but due to potential controversy they were painted over by Fair officials with silver paint a few days later. When the Fair opened to the public, all that was visible was a large silver panel. This program is presented in connection with the exhibition 13 Most Wanted Men: Andy Warhol and the 1964 World’s Fair on view until January 4th at The Warhol 117 Sandusky St, Pittsburgh, PA 15212, United States. Photo Alex Schneider
