Andy Warhol: In His Wake Carrozzini von Buhler Gallery 407 West 13th Street, 2nd Floor Through March 14, 2007 Written by Janet Perisa Photographed by Melinda Maclean (Opposite Art Work by Cynthia Von Buhler)

Carrozzini Von Buhler Gallery Decoration

The Meatpacking District’s Carrozzini Von Buhler Gallery exhibit, Andy Warhol: In His Wake, marked the 20th anniversary of the death of Pop Art’s chief protagonist. The opening night reception overflowed with cocktails, creativity and quips from Warhol’s inner-circle.

“Andy loved my dirty poems,” said eighty-two-year-old poet and Factory regular, Taylor Mead. As guests gathered around to hear the jocular lyrist, clad in a leather bomber and paper-boy cap, recite the words to one of Warhol’s favorite poems, he paused in mid-sentence, dangled his drink in his right hand, shrugged, then blurted, “I fucked up, but Andy would have loved it!”

According to the owner of CVB space, Cynthia von Buhler, her gallery sees a steady flow of legendary “Warholstars” who use the small, industrial loft as a studio and platform for their works. For this exhibit, Von Buhler had tinseled and foiled her space to replicate the Factory’s silver décor. Along the walls were paintings and manipulated photographic portraits of Warhol by artists Amy Cohen Banker, Steve Joester, William John Kennedy, Billy Name, Ultra Violet and Anton Perch.

Cynthia Von Buhler
Artist and Gallery Owner

The exhibition includes Von Buhler’s “Cynth-O-Matic” arcade; her surreal “Fun-house” features a collection of interactive sculptures and three-dimensional paintings. Von Buhler’s personalized version of the “Candy Machine” drew hordes of attention. For a whopping twenty-five cents, exhibitioners can purchase a plastic capsule of the artist’s finger nail clippings, menstrual blood and hair samples. Ironically, it is a huge bargain compared to the thousands of dollars paid for Britney Spears’ sheered locks on Ebay. Von Buhler designed the cover for the latest issue of NY ARTS magazine; it includes a feature story on this latest work.

Self Portrait as Saint Sebastian
by Cynthia Von Buhler

Self Portrait as Saint Sebastian by Cynthia Von Buhler	please don't look up my skirt by Cynthia Von Buhler
Warholian Taylor Mead Recites	Amy Banker and her Art Work
The Great Warhola Fortune Telling Machine by Cynthia von Buhler	Ivy Nicholson

Ivy Nicholson’s film, The Dead Life, was continuously shown during the opening. . Nicholson commented on the highly anticipated yet disappointing release of Factory Girl, starring Guy Pierce and Sienna Miller. “I hated how they portrayed [Andy] in that movie,” droned Nicholson as she rolled her eyes. “I was not happy with the film.” The slender and leggy Nicholson, who starred in the underground films, Couch and Four Stars, talked about working on her autobiography which is expected to be released later this year in France and will include topics that range from her days carousing at the ‘Factory’ to the many, many men she’s loved. When asked if she could elaborate on the latter, Nicholson grinned and said, “You’ll have to buy the book.”

Amy Cohen Banker took a moment to retreat amidst her acerbic, contemporary paintings in her exhibition space at CVB. She talked about her first encounter with Warhol when she was thirteen-years old: “He was very objective, and came off as aloof, [but] at the same time, he was very friendly. “ Cohen-Banker has been exhibiting her works globally for twenty years and has taught art classes at New York City’s, MoMa.

This exhibition will run until March 14th. For more information on the life and legacy of Andy Warhol, including live recorded interviews and a new radio documentary titled, The Warhol Effect, log on to:
www.bbc.co.uk/radio2

For future exhibitions and coming events, log on to:
www.cvbspacegallery.blogspot.com
www.cynthiavonbuhler.com
www.amycohenbanker.com

Michelle Entinean and Staphanie Benjamin at the Opening