Andy Warhol

Everything is a haze. What's happening here?
I wish I took a picture of him. Andy Warhol ~
who took this photo of me 2 days ago ~ ~



Here's what happened. I was hired to twist Balloons at an upscale event at the Angel Orensanz Foundation. Just the Basic Balloon Dog to commemorate Jeff Koon's large sculptures of the Basic Balloon Dog. I really enjoyed that job. Bought jewel-toned balloons - gold, silver, sapphire, magenta, hot pink, and onyx black. No rush for how many can I produce per hour because Entertainment was more the key. So I really loved the Balloons. Put on quite a beautiful show ~ dancing with the pressure inside the balloons ~ feeling Great ~ seeking the Perfect Balloon Dogs ~ all bubbles being the Same Size including the tail and the right-sized tip ~ I was Really into the Art of Balloons. The beauty of the invisible pressure that expands the balloons. My body, my torso, as it twists. And bends. High and Low. Tip and base.

Interaction with the people who watched, the people who were given the perfectly twisted balloons.

Including one young man who was quite charming. He even said, several times, "You're awesome." Niiiice. I felt like I'm okay. Like it's okay to actually Be an artist. Instead of the way people usually make me feel by insisting that I complete x-number of Balloons per hour to give each person a Thing.

I wish I took a photo of that man.

He had ashy-blonde hair and intense black tattoos peeking out from his shirt. A larger, solid, built body than the body I had seen in the photos of 'the real Andy Warhol' ~ the Andy Warhol who was a fantastic and famous Artist.

Because later, as I was twisting for some other guests, that charming young man took my photo. Apparently that was his job. He was walking around, snapping photos, signing them, and handing the undeveloped black rectangle to each guest. He did that for me. Amazing that he could design and create such a good photo under such difficult lighting and shmoozing conditions.

He signed it "Andy Warhol". I automatically said, 'Wow ~ must be Andy Warhol's son? Grandson?' But I don't think that Andy Warhol had any children. So maybe his nephew? Or just somebody who played games when naming her child?

But there were all sorts of wild entertainers at this event. The man who was dressed as a table. The women who danced as chandeliers. The guests taking off their shirts to receive real (including blood) tattoos at the table next to me (later when I was drawing Caricatures)...

So was this young man an Andy Warhol 'impersonator'? Like hiring 'Dora' to come to a Child's Party? Or was he related to the Artist (he certainly had been talented)? Or was he someone whose parents had given him a 'useful' name?

I had a great time. I hope to book more Entertaining balloon events. Perhaps for Childrens' Parties. But definitely for Adult Parties.

to hire this artist:
(516)579-4706
optidust@gmail.com