Tuesday, June 10, 2008

Andy Warhol's Time Capsules


The staff of the Andy Warhol Museum is currently in the process of opening and cataloguing each of Warhol's more than 600 time capsules. I wasn't aware that Warhol kept time capsules, but it appears that it was a standard practice of his.

"Now I just drop everything into the same-size brown cardboard boxes that have a color patch on the side for the month of the year. I really hate nostalgia, though, so deep down I hope they all get lost and I never have to look at them again." -- The Philosophy of Andy Warhol


This is a short list of some of the items they've found recently:


  • 121 torn pieces of US 1, 5, 10, 20, 50, and 100 dollar bill edges
  • Fan letter and nude photograph of Lance Loud, age 16ish
  • Gift box sent to Warhol from a fan containing a doll and several handmade doll outfits
  • Note of well wishes from Allen Ginsberg on a list of chanting mantras from the New School
  • Necklace of Gumby figures crafted by Billy Boy
  • A collection of stationery, menus, napkins, and brochures stolen from hotels around the world
  • Photographic negatives of Campbell's soup cans and Coke bottles used as source material for artworks
  • A selection from several hundred get well cards sent to Warhol following the 1968 shooting
  • A postcard from Valerie Solanas criticizing Warhol for misspelling her name
  • Two doggie sweaters for Andy's dachshunds, Amos and Archie
  • A bag containing approximately 20 spools of wig tape
  • One of Warhol's silver and black wigs
  • Invoices from Stephen Sprouse's clothing store totaling $70,000.00
  • A selection of kinky newspapers and magazines


And here's a sample capsule.

1 comment:

amy turn sharp said...

this is fascinating... so cool