Andy Warhol

The Velvet Underground
20" x 24", oil on canvas, 2015

The generation that are now freshmen in college never heard of the Velvet Underground. This is about to change, at least concerning those freshmen that attend FSW and select Art Appreciation as an elective. I personally make sure that those students attending know about, if not appreciate, this part of the history of rock music. There are about 60 of them each semester, and when pop art is discussed the Andy Warhol hook is used to introduced the Velvet Underground. The video clip selected last semester was one recorded by Andy Warhol in the Factory. I'm Waiting for the Man is one of Velvet's most memorable songs. I used it in class to talk about the work ethic that existed within the confines of the Factory, and that (especially) Lou Reed composed songs all day. (In class I don't shy away from talking about New York City night life and the drug references that come with it either.)