Asemics 16 - Airgun Target Chapter - homage to burroughs & warhol

Comment

Comment by Alicia Starr on July 7, 2011 at 9:26pm

Laurie and Lou live in Manhattan I believe. My son worked with her on a  couple of projects a few years ago. She was also one of the guest artists who came to the Multi-media program when studied with Hans Breder at the University of Iowa Art and Art History in the 1980's. Thanks for this conversation guys.

Comment by De Villo Sloan on July 7, 2011 at 9:12pm

Erni - I think Billy Burroughs (the son) hung around at the Naropa Institute a bit - not sure about that

Comment by De Villo Sloan on July 7, 2011 at 9:08pm

Enjoying reading comments by Erni and Alicia. Both Burroughs and Warhol are such huge icons, we can still gain so much looking at them. The Velvet Underground and Lou Reed - can't forget that Warhol connection. Geez, didn't realize Laurie Anderson married him. The Velvet Underground also came out of Fluxus drone bands - one of the earlier ones being The Dream Syndicate (not to be confused with a later punk band by the same name). 

 

Erni - I don't understand why Burroughs married. He was so openly gay in the first place. US literature is so misogynist - look at Hemingway. Then you have WSB coming along and using his wife for target practice (shooting apple off her head and missing). It just added to the myth. Burroughs had a son - I think from that marriage - named Billy. He even published a novel: "Speed" (abit like dad's "Junky"). Billy's short life was a big tragedy. It comes up in the various WSB bios. 

 

As the news clipping indicates, Burroughs came from that prominent family that invented the adding machine, later became Burroughs Corporation and then I think was finally acquired by some larger corporate entity. I think his family got him out of the shooting incident - lucky he was in Mexico. You could get way with a lot in those days.

Comment by Alicia Starr on July 7, 2011 at 3:34pm

Love Andy, Basquiat and of course the Velvet Underground's work and your work as well. Are you familiar with Laurie Anderson? She is married to Lou Reed. More of a sound, performance artist. Interesting things below.

Comment by De Villo Sloan on July 7, 2011 at 3:17pm

Complications from the wounds he sustained from the Salano attack - even though he lived many years after - were considered a factor contributing to Warhol's death.

Comment by De Villo Sloan on July 7, 2011 at 3:07pm

I agree Erni. I think Dark wall is commenting on this strange business with firearms and art. Burroughs' obsession culminated with actual shotgun paintings. I think there is gender commentary. Burroughs' shooting of his wife is seen by many as misogyny - unconsciously intentional. Valerie Solano was Warhol's assassin - didn't even remember the name. She was certainly involved with the feminist movement - wasn't scum an extremist offshoot?She was obsessed with Warhol, but if I remember, he like her art and let her in the factory. She didn't come out of nowhere. Will have to refresh my memory.

Comment by De Villo Sloan on July 7, 2011 at 2:46pm

Yes Erni, good material. Burroughs' fascination with guns and the William Tell incident are legend. SCUM - Society to Cut Up Men - and Warhol's 'Assassination" might not be as well known, or perhaps they are. I'm aware of both.

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