Time Travel With Andy Warhol: Eyes Closed

Took the Time Machine to see Andy Warhol last night...

Andy was working on new pieces and quite introspective. Upon seeing me, he just stood still and waited to speak.

“Which version of you am I getting, Moni? You look... Your eyes look like they’ve seen more. But it’s not love in them.”

“No, it isn’t love.” I shrug and admire his unfinished pieces.

“Moni, it’s because you leave your eyes open and people should fall in love with their eyes closed. Close your eyes!”

“Now?” I posture as I’m taken aback with his demand.

“Why not? Let’s practice. I’ll go first.” Andy announces and proceeds to close his eyes.

“Do you have champagne?” I ask leaving one eye open to scan the room.

Ignoring my query he asks, “Moni, are your eyes closed?”

“No.”

“Close your eyes.”

Time Travel with Andy Warhol: Burgers

Took the Time Machine to see Andy Warhol last night...

Andy was about to be filmed eating a burger as a part of some film he was excited about.

“Moni, it’s been too long! We are going to eat! Would you like a burger? They’ll bring you one too. I’ll make them.”

After I give a shrug, Andy instructs them to send the runner for a Big Mac because “McDonald’s is the most beautiful, Monica. Where is the McDonald’s? Don’t you think, Moni?” 

“Can’t I just have champagne?” I ask not feeling hungry.

As the director starts to send his runner for the burger, Andy immediately interjects, “No, never mind, I’ll take the Burger King and Moni will have champagne. Cheers!”

Time Travel with Andy Warhol: Contact Sheets

Took the time machine to The Factory to see Andy Warhol...

Andy was looking at contact sheets of himself eating a bowl of Corn Flakes when I arrived.

“Moni, do you like them? Corn Flakes?

Shaking my head, before I could answer Andy interjects.

“Of course you don’t, I like boring things. Well since you’re here, help yourself to a glass of champagne while I work. I have to work. I’ve got a lot of mouths to feed. Someone has to bring home the bacon.” 

As I start to sip the champagne, he asks “How do you feel about bacon?”

Time Travel With Andy Warhol: Mad about Portraits

 

Took the time machine to see Andy Warhol last night:

Andy was a mad man amid a flurry of activity taking photos for his new series with Blondie. 

Helping myself to a cocktail he took notice of my prescence to smile and ask, "Mony, do you take portraits or paint them?"

 

Before I could answer he started in again taking notice of a blemish on my chin, "When I did my self-portrait, I left all the pimples out because you always should. Pimples are a temporary condition and they don’t have anything to do with what you really look like...

Smiling, I sip & blush. "By all means create portraits Mony but... Always omit the blemishes – they’re not part of the good picture you want.”

Time Travel with Andy Warhol: Weights & Meanings

 

Took the time machine to a party at the Factory last night to discover Andy Warhol lifting weights & Edie dancing while a pair of lovers entertained the company of Napoleon via a Ouija Board.

As I sip my drink and watch the antics of the room Andy Warhol says to me:

“Mony, I'm afraid that if you look at anything long enough, it loses all of its meaning.”

Time Travel with Andy Warhol: Coca Cola

Last night: Took the Time Machine to see Andy Warhol.

Andy was pacing around frantically with an oversized Coca-cola bottle and shaking his head for a few moments before noticing my presence. 

"Oh dear Moni," Andy exclaimed, "you look so parched. Would you care for a coke? It's simply the drink of the masses, rich or poor!"

Shrugging nonchalantly to indicate my uncertainty over thirst launches him into a rant...

"Moni, my dear, what is great about our country America is the tradition where the rich buy essentially the same things as the poor. You can watch TV and see Coca Cola, and you know that the President drinks Coca Cola, Liz Taylor drinks Coca Cola, and just think, you can drink Coca Cola, too. A coke is a coke and no amount of money can get you a better coke than the one the bum on the corner is drinking. All the cokes are the same and all the cokes are good. Liz Taylor knows it, the President knows it, the bum knows it, and you know it."

As he stops to catch his breathe, I yawn and roll my eyes. Catching my eyes before I can turn away he postures again... 

"Would you like a Coca Cola?"

With a shrug, I say why not?

Time Travel with Andy Warhol: Andy's Birthday

Last Tuesday: Took the time machine to The Factory to see Andy Warhol. It was Andy's birthday when I arrived.

He stopped and welcomed me with a surprise when I wished him Happy Birthday. He said, “Mony, my dear Mony, birthdays are not a celebratory event. Your birth marks your live in slavery. You see being born is like being kidnapped. And then sold into slavery. People must begin breaking bad habits and celebrating this servitude.”

I smiled as I surprisingly agreed with him. With a nod of my head Andy brought out a small dessert dish and said, “Mony, do be a dear, help me eat this cake.” 

To which I replied, “I can't. That cake celebrates my enslavement to sugar. It's a bad habit I must break with.”

Stunned Andy paused and said nothing before tossing aside the dessert then walking away.

Time Travel with Andy Warhol: Double Elvis & Double Lives

Last night: Took the Time Machine to see Andy Warhol at The Factory. Andy was entertaining guests & shooting screen tests. 

While I eagerly grabbed a cocktail & a seat in the corner, I listened to Bob Dylan & Andy Warhol discussing Double Elvis With a Gun. 

Andy mused “Can you imagine being shot? It would be as though ending one life and beginning another. To know the difference between watching TV & living life.”

To which Bob replied, “I don't know Andy I'm just trying to make it through the weekend but I’d be happy to take an Elvis.”

Before I left The Factory I knew this was nothing like watching TV.

(2-1-2013)

Time Travel with Andy Warhol: Epic Blow

Last Night: Epic Blow.

Took the Time Machine to see Andy Warhol at The Factory. 

Andy Warhol decides we need to see Richard Avedon because he is having an epic photo shoot. As we arrive the model is mid action with her hair blown. 

Jump to a few cocktails & hours later: I'm sipping a champagne cocktail and I muse to Andy how fabulous it would be to have all that hair to play with.

Andy then muses very loudly to Richard: When you're done... Would you mind doing us next? Moni and I would love to get blown tonight!

(12-30-2012)

Time Travel with Andy Warhol: So What

Last night tonight: Took the time machine. I was going to The Factory. To see Andy Warhol performing a trick at 10pm teaching people to say “So What”

As I arrive early at 9pm I find Andy quite relaxed before the performance where he explained his trick to me…

“Mony, you have to understand that sometimes people let the same problem make them miserable for years when they could just say, ‘So what.’

‘My mother didn’t love me.’ So what.

‘My husband won’t ball me.’ So what.

‘I’m a success but I’m still alone.’ So what.

Honestly Mony, I don’t know how I made it through all the years before I learned how to do that trick. It took a long time for me to learn it, but once you do, you never forget…”

(12-28-2012)

Time Travel With Andy Warhol: Make Art

Last Night: Took the time machine to see Andy Warhol at The Factory.

Andy was amid a fabulously grand display while everyone looked on in anticipation.

Pausing to catch a breathe he ponders loudly.

“Where has Ms Monica been lately? In my dreams? No. But here she is drinking my champagne and yawning like the others.”

Quietly he looks up with an expectation of an answer. Before I speak he starts again.

“Could she have fallen madly badly in love? Where are your bruises & broken bones, Mony?

With a smile I shake my head and reply,

“I've been thinking about & trying to make art. And well you know how it is to love people.”

“Mony, you don't try to make art! Have another champagne!”

He waves someone to grab me another drink before continuing.

“Look Mony, don't think about making art, just get it done. Let everyone else decide if it's good or bad, whether they love it or hate it. While they are deciding, make even more art. But for now just enjoy your drink!”

Time Travel with Andy Warhol...

One of my favorite series that I wrote was a fictional take on events with historical figure Andy Warhol. It was inspired by a lack of something to do one evening... but I've digressed and shared too much. I'll let you read about it instead. Here's one of the passages. 

Enjoy!
Kisses, m.

May 12, 2013

2:00AM Last Night : Took the time machine to see Andy Warhol at The Factory.

Andy was contemplating mortality while asking me if I’d like another Mimosa. Decidedly I’d grown weary of the conversation and had had two Mimosa’s too many so I replied, “Please Andy darling, no more drinking and talking about dying. I’d rather go shopping. Can we go shopping Andy?”

Being divinely Andy Warhol he placed a skull upon his head and said, Mony, I never think that people die. They just go to department stores! Lets visit them! And I’ll wear a hat.”