Photo by Justin Criado.
(From left to right) Chief archivist Matt Wrbican, assistant archivist Cindy Lisica, Time Capsule cataloguer Erin Byrne, and special guest Benjamin Liu opening Andy Warhol’s Time Capsule 86 during an event Friday, Aug. 15 at the Andy Warhol Museum.
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By Justin Criado
It’s hard to believe nearly 30 years after his death, Andy Warhol is still releasing original work…sort of.
The Andy Warhol Museum on the North Shore has been opening Warhol’s “time capsules” in a series of events that offers art enthusiasts a look inside the life of one of the most recognized artists of our time.
“There are a lot of cool things,” chief archivist Matt Wrbican said. “There are a lot of bizarre and strange things, but the fact that they’re connected to this one guy who is really so central to American culture at that time is really just amazing.”
Wrbican, Time Capsules cataloguer Erin Byrne, assistant archivist Cindy Lisica and special guest Benjamin Liu, who served as Warhol’s last assistant from 1982-87, opened Time Capsule 86 Friday, Aug. 15.
“Obviously pop art is about consumer products or consumerism and he’s the ultimate consumer,” Liu said.
The team revealed Warhol themed t-shirts, album covers, stickers and art from various sources. There were also invitations and letters from Polaroid, director Roman Polanksi and artist Ray Johnson.
The museum has opened all but one of the time capsules, and Wrbican says there isn’t a particular pattern or theme regarding what Warhol kept.
“It’s so interesting because every time you open something you learn more about him,” Wrbican said. “We’ve found bags full of corroded batteries. Like why would you save those things?
Warhol packed 600 boxes from 1974 until his untimely death in 1987.
Liu helped pack some of the boxes during his time working for Warhol, and says he remembers Warhol constantly searching for things.
“The more I think about it he was just going through stuff all the time,” Liu said.
The last remaining time capsule will be opened in private as the right to select the opening date and be present during the opening was auctioned off during the museum’s 20th anniversary event in May.
For more information about the time capsules and events at the museum visit the official website.
