Slipping into the Warhol Zone with Susan McAllister (Berkeley, California, USA)

[De Villo Sloan]

Mail-art by IUOMA member Susan McAllister (Berkeley, California, USA)

July 30, 2014 - I am always excited to receive mail-art from Susan McAllister who sends perspectives from Berkeley, a place I like a great deal. She has even been known in the past to send me Trashpo from the streets and telephone poles. While remaining faithful to her red & black, abstract art explorations, this time Susan McAllister sent me something that departs from earlier work received.

I almost missed it, and I am still rubbing my eyes to make sure what I think is there is really there: In the upper-right, does it say (or possibly could it be construed to say), “Warhol Zone”? Then wouldn’t the “15 minute” time limit reference the ubiquitous Warhol quote about 15 minutes of fame for everyone? Maybe I’ve finally lost it. The monkey/clown is even more ambiguous. Monkeys have been a huge theme at MinXus-Lynxus. Many other interpretations are possible as well. For personal meaning, I find this a great commentary on “The Spectacle” (see Situationism) of the modern world.

This is a great addition to my growing collection of correspondence from Susan McAllister. I’ve had some fun puzzling over the message and reaching an understanding. Many thanks!

[Gü]

Richard, I will gladly make a copy for you and of another I have and get that off to you. They came from a magazine I've had since '89. There was a third Warhol strip that I enclosed and sent to Moan Lisa in her call 'Two Women' Maybe she'll do a copy of that one for you too.

[Richard Canard]

01.08.14 Dare Ms. Gina U., I think Warhol's statement has been cut to ten minutes...Could  I please call upon  you to send me a  hard copy  (just a xerox  will do) of your "Arty Party" cartoon for my "Cartoons about Art" file???  Many years ago, (in the 80's) the Tate did a small exhibit of art cartoons & I sent  my teensy batch file. I think it must have  ended up in  the archives somewhere. Do you have others??? All best to you.  Richard Canard, 409 S. Emerald Lane, Carbondale, Illusion 629012-2140 U.S.A.D.D.  

[De Villo Sloan]

Susan, this work is more narrative than other things you've sent. That's my impression. I can see the monkey/clown as being satirical in relation to the Warhol quote. So that's why I've pursued this (probably way to far).

Monkeys rank as a big symbol in MinXus-Lynxus, which is another thing you had no idea you were stepping into. Years ago I started the rumor that Grigori Antonin had trained monkey to make his mail-art & finally he had been disfigured hideously when attacked by said slave monkeys. Now if anyone actually believed that absurdity, that's not my problem.

When Cheryl Penn was at IUOMA monkeys were always entering her house & doing mischief. She used to post pics. Now that really happened. I guess it's normal in South Africa. That just fed into the monkey thing.

[Susan McAllister]

DeVillo, I thought the monkey had no personal meaning for me. I just thought it was a great image. But upon reflection, I realized that I read the monkey as a mix of a monkey and a clown. Since I have never been a big fan of Warhol's work, the monkey may have been a sub-conscious statement about that.

Forget the cigar comment. Who am I to be quoting Freud anyway?

[De Villo Sloan]

Thanks, Susan - for the comment and the great mail-art. I admit to sometimes reading too much into things & I'm aware there are people who think I read way too much into everything. So I was being cautious about Andy Warhol when in hindsight, I agree, your reference is clear as day. Many people just do their art intuitively & don't have clear intentions other than making a gift for someone. (Hours & miles of thread have been devoted to that topic of artistic intention at IUOMA in the past.)

I'm with you: "A rose is a rose is a rose."

[Susan McAllister]

I know I can always count on you to find an interesting interpretion of almost anything. One of the many things I enjoy about your blogs. But sometimes a cigar is just a cigar.

[De Villo Sloan]

Exactly my point, Gina. Thanks. SM left me a note on FB saying the Warhol reference is obvious. But I really struggled with it because it looks like "WARHOD" to me.

So let's say Warhod said everyone would be famished for 15 minutes.  Warhol said something else.

That still leaves the monkey.

[Gü]

I think you've cracked it! It could almost be a fb selfie!

I knew I had an old comic strip about this...