Pictured above: “Warhol’s West” features a mockup of the many steps in the screen printing process.
Courtesy of Aubrey Carr | The Crow’s Nest
By Aubrey Carr
Andy Warhol’s Americana-themed “Warhol’s West” exhibition is brought to St. Petersburg at the James Museum of Western and Wildlife Art.
The exhibit is composed of 69 pieces, many from Warhol’s 1986 “Cowboys and Indians” collection, highlighting the beauty of the American West.
Although many know Warhol’s iconic artworks, few know of the man’s adoration for western mythos.
“Because this series was done at the very end of his career, [Warhol] wasn’t able to produce some of those original paintings that typically went alongside with the screen print series. We did not have these major gallery openings that really helped that publicity, So, not a lot of people know about [Cowboys and Indians],” said Curator of Art Emily Kapes.
Though largely unknown, the west was a passion for Warhol. “When he passed, his estate found 27 pairs [of cowboy boots], he wore them almost on a daily basis,” Kapes said.
While walking through the exhibit, visitors will recognize many famous faces of Western America, including Annie Oakley, Theodore Roosevelt, Geronimo and Sitting Bull.
Each work is an eye-catching and colorful screen print, crafted using Warhol’s signature pop-art style.
Although the series’ name includes the word cowboy, there are none to be found. Instead, much of the focus is on indigenous persons, with works showcasing native life and artifacts.
In addition to the 10 official artworks of Warhol’s “Cowboys and Indians” portfolio, 14 of the test prints made during the creation of the series are on display, capturing the lengthy process of the collection.
“The series actually took a year longer than originally planned,” Kapes said, citing the timing issues to creative differences between Warhol and his publishers.
Beyond the obvious west-inspired artworks, “Warhol’s West” also features the artist’s earlier pieces, such as a wall of vibrant prints capturing iconic characters of pop culture. The Wicked Witch of The West, Howdy Doody and Uncle Sam all make appearances.
“We pull in some of the more indirect imagery from the west, but it is all good fun,” Kapes said.
Next to each piece in the exhibit is a framed photograph showing the original subject of Warhol’s recreation. Visitors are offered a unique chance to see the direct source of the famed artist’s creative vision.
Teaching viewers of the screen printing process, “Warhol’s West” opens to a mockup of the technique, showing each step in the many-layered process alongside that step’s result. As shown in the display, each color of Warhol’s works is added one-by-one through a different silk screen printed layer. The model was created by students at Columbus State University.
In a family-friendly interactive activity, the museum asks viewers to “join the exhibition” by taking a picture of themselves, which is then edited pop-art-style and projected onto the wall next to Warhol’s works. The colorful photo is emailed to the visitor.
When asked why the museum chose to display Warhol’s work, Kapes simply said, “I think he made art relevant, and people really enjoyed it.”
“Warhol’s West” runs from Oct. 2 through Jan. 9, 2022. The exhibit is open during the museum’s regular visiting hours and is included with the regular price of admission.
The James Museum is open Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Tuesdays from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Admission is $10 on Tuesdays and $15 every other day with a valid student ID. Tickets can be purchased on The James Museum’s website or in person. Tickets must be purchased at least 30 minutes before closing time.
Due to COVID-19 restrictions, the museum’s Canyon Cafe is closed until further notice. Visitors are required to wear masks at all times.
