The Factory was a workshop of famous artist located at New York, opened by Andy Warhol in 1963. The group The Velvet Underground often occurred there. The place was used with the production of works Pop art as Warhol.

A workshop and a place of socialization

Most of the work of Andy Warholck your mama thus consisted in questioning the production of images. Images of stars, ones of newspapers, symbols of America, but also social images, these masks which we put between us and others in a to and from between the being and to appear it which was the only really paramount thing in its eyes. Thus in the same way that the Factory had been used to produce with the chain the most expensive serigraphies of the history of art, this place was to be also used in Warhol to produce Mythe, social image in industrial quantity, and to propel in the great constellation of VIP whoever would put the feet at his place.

The Factory , the Factory thus, was to be this Loft of years 1960/70, this place where one enters anonymous and from where one leaves Superstar (according to the terminology of Warhol).

Initially located on the 47e street (“ Silver Factory ”, because its walls were covered with silver plated painting) then moved in 1968 at the 33 Union West Public garden (in the same building as the permanence of the Communist party!), this hangar/apartment was thus going to accommodate all that Warhol and its assistants could produce. Gallery of exposure, studio of turning, room of projection, concert hall, nightclub, all the events were pretexts with the meeting of the gratin of the New Yorkean jet set which came encanailler briskly with all the lost ones, depressive, toxicos of which Warhol liked to be surrounded in giant festivals where the social classes were abolished, everyone placed with the same ensign of the super-star-system underground. In fact, the celebrity imported little, even if many figures of the world of art, media or cinema trailed in trimmings, of Salvador Dali to William Burroughs, of Dylan to De Niro. What imported, it was to be a star, and to be a star, it was enough to say it, and to be there. Nothing more.

Obviously, all the Superstars warholiennes which Factory generated had their speciality. Gerald Malanga was poet and photographer, Nico singer, Ultra-violet plastician, etc, but essentially, that was only purely additional, since absolutely not necessary.

One can on this subject quote the edifying example of Edie Sedgwick, Superstar adulated still today by the fans of the Factory , and which forever nothing made other but be the subject of the photographs or films of Warhol, the most naive way and most natural possible, before putting an end to its days with barbiturate blow at the 28 years age. Excluded a short career in mannequinât, Edie did not do anything in its life but the festival with his/her friends. And yet in the spirit of the whole world, it is Edie Superstar , appearing in the Pantheon of the 60' S American as well as Morrison or Dylan.

Here what the Factory was able to make, and especially it with what it got busy without slackening: not-stop production of events, production of myth, and more you unimportant, were released, lost, in freefall, plus you were likely to see your statute of reinforced Superstar , because nothing to make was yet the best means of not sullying your glory while becoming other thing than pure produced Factory … something like yourself for example.

Because even if that were never openly acknowledged, neither by Warhol nor by no member of the movement, one can only note the aspect paradoxically collectivist from what occurred then to Factory. What could be more effective, indeed, to arrive at disappearance warholienne to drown individualities in the group? Pure Marxism in the middle of the New York of the Years 1960? Why not? And with the detractors who advance that the purpose of this strategy was only that to safeguard the supremacy of Warhol by choking the other talents, only one answer: and if Factory were finally only the permanent place of residence of a protean collective artists answering in the name of “Andy Warhol”, as one decade later Monty Cantsin firstly became the open-pop-star that one known under the features of Istvan Kantor?

This beautiful Utopie however was not to resist time nor with the natural reflexes, and so in 1972, Paul Morrissey declared for example in connection with Trash : “ you know, we do all with Warhol more or less together, so that it is difficult to say if the film is of me or him ”, it was not the only one to assert thereafter what returned to him from right, everywhere else that in the space time of the Factory . Even alive of Warhol besides the, many ones were the violent ruptures between the Master and his Superstars , because most difficult finally was not so much to enter the glamor team and disillusioned Factory , but well to leave there and have again to build an identity only, without the financial and promotional comfort which the proximity of the dandy brought to wig. After having drawn on him twice in 1968, Valerie Solanas did not declare it with the police force: “ Warhol had too much control on my life ”?

The collective like only creed, therefore, but Warhol not being easily deceived, criticisms either, the pope of the Pop-art will never succeed in getting rid of its name, preferring, as for the remainder of its works, ad infinitum multiplying it on all the possible supports, by hoping that this profusion dehumanizes it completely, the vacuum of its significance, as the image of Marilyn which did not have anything any more Monroe.

When you started to trail with Warhol, it was necessary for you to accept this not-equitable pact, and to lose you in your turn in a proper name which would be never yours. With some rare exceptions, the deal was to finish in tragedy, a movement which accelerated as of the death of the artist in 1987, when already pop-art was dying man and that it was necessary for each one of his former accomplices to hurry to prove that it was able to create/exist without him.

Superstars of Factory however, rare which is those succeeded in creating a clean identity and in all the cases, never their personal fame did not manage to reach the level which it had of the time of the Underground.

Despite everything and even if many sites and works testify already to this microcosm and individualities to each one, let us risk us nevertheless with a small gallery of portraits.

Superstars

  • Paul America
Of its true name Paul Johnson (1945-1982?). A beautiful mouth noticed in a discotheque, which electrifies its entourage as well female as male. Its service in My Hustler in 1965 transforms it into icon Gay. Drug is worth prison on several occasions to him. It disappears in 1982.
  • Jackie Curtis
Of its true name John Holder Jr (1947-1985). Jackie Curtis is a chameleon who appears alternatively as a man or a woman. Warhol, which meets it in 1967, will say: “ Jackie Curtis is not a drag queen. Jackie is an artist, a pioneer without borders ”. In fact, it will influence many personalities of the Glam rock'n'roll which attend the New Yorkean clubs, like David Bowie. Actor ( Flesh , Women in Revolt ), poet, Jackie Curtis did much theater as actor and writer. Died of overdose in 1985.

See also: Jackie Curtis

  • Joe Dallesandro
Born in 1948, discovered at 18 years by Andy Warhol which, fascinated by its body of beautiful young man, films it on several occasions naked, making of him a sex-symbol cinema underground. He becomes an experienced actor: Paul Morrissey, Francis Ford Coppola, John Waters, Steven Soderberg, Serge Gainsbourg, Jacques Rivette, Catherine Breillat, Blake Edwards… call upon him.

See also: Joe Dallesandro

  • Candy Darling
Born James L. Slattery (1944-1974). Actress warholienne transsexual ( Flesh and Women in Revolt ), obsessed by Marilyn Monroe (which died in 1962). Friend of Jackie Curtis, it meets Warhol in 1967. She will test herself in the independent cinema, but dies of leukemia following injections of hormones.

See also: Candy Darling

  • Eric Emerson
Eric Emerson (1945-1975). Superstar with the asserted and devastating bisexuality. Ballet dancer, actor warholien in several productions of which Chelsea Girls and Heat , then singer of the group glam The Magic Tramps . Found died in a street of Manhattan beside its bicycle.
  • Andrea `Whips' Feldman
Andrea Feldman (1948-1972). Actress warholienne ( Trash , Heat ) and of exhibitionist nature. Commits suicide while throwing themselves by the window, holding a quill of Coca (charged in drugs some will say) and a Rosaire in the hands, in front of the wrongly assembled floor of its ex- boyfriends ! This at 3 weeks of the exit of Heat where it holds a big role, the New York Times greeted its service all while describing it as not-performance , as well it corresponds to the role as it plays there.
  • Bibbe Hansen
Born in 1952, it is the girl of Al Hansen (Fluxus) and the mother of the singer Beck. Actress warholienne, it plays 13 years the main role of Prison : she is youngest of the Superstars . She appears in Warhol' S Restoring , 10 Beautiful Girls and 10 More Beautiful Girls . Belonging to New Yorkean artistic seraglio, it will form musical groups (like The Whippets with Janet, the girl of Jack Kerouac) and will be Co-founder of the Troy Café.
  • “Baby” Jane Holzer
Born Jane Brookenfeld in 1940. Girl of a New Yorkean property developer, actress warholienne in Soap Operated , Couch and Ciao! Manhattan . Married to a rich person heir, it becomes thereafter collector of art and film producer.
  • Gerald Malanga
Born in 1943, graduate in arts (School off Industrial Art and Wagner College), it is engaged in 1963 by Warhol as assistant for his serigraphies and becomes his right-hand man. He presents the to him Velvet Underground in 1965, qu ' he will accompagera of his dance of the whip at the time of the concerts. Cofounder of the magazine Interview. Leave the Factory in 1970 (some will say transfered by Paul Morrissey). Poet, actor warholien, realizer, photographer, conservative and archivist, he is a witness of the years Factory .

See also: Gerald Malanga

  • Mario Assemble
Né Rene Will rivet. Actor warholien of 1963 to 1968 and Gay icon .
  • Billy Name
Of its true name Billy Linich (born in 1940). Former hairdresser, waiter and decorator of theater, meet Andy Warhol in 1963, and remain very friendly after a short connection. It is at the origin of the silver plated look of the Silver Factory . It installs there a photographic laboratory in the toilets and saw there in such recluse that to cross Billy Name became a subject of joke. One owes him, with Stephen Shore, the iconography of the Factory . Left in 1970 by leaving a word on the door: “ Andy, I am not there any more but I am well ”.
  • Nico
Of its true name Christa Pä ffgen (1938-1988). Model, actress and singer of German origin. Famous for its collaboration with The Velvet Underground, it made a career solo (album Chelsea Girl , 1967). Also celebrate for its many lovesongs: Jim Morrison, Brian Jones, Lou Reed, John Fixes, Iggy Pop and Alain Delon with which it have a son. Died in Ibiza in 1988.

See also: Christa Päffgen

  • Ondine
Of its true name Robert Olivo (1937-1989). Met by Warhol in an orgy in 1961 or 1962. He played in 8 films between 1964 and 1967 of which Chelsea Girls ; central figure with the Factory between 1963 and 1967-- its fabric is due especially to its charisma and its presence, “ better than a theatrical performance because really lived ” (Billy Name). In 1969, Ondine lined up -- work, stable relation -- and Warhol noted that “ the glare had left ”! He lived thereafter like guide and storyteller of the era Factory , “ with the drift in a sorry sea of uncomprehending faces ” (Mary Woronov). He dies of cirrhosis in 1989.
  • Brigid Polk
Of its true name Brigid Berlin (born in 1939). Accustomed young person to attend the celebrities and the capacity: Clark Gable, Joan Crawford but also Lyndon Johnson or J. Edgar Hoover belongs to knowledge of his/her parents. Gavée of drugs, it suffers from turbid obsessional compulsifs and plumpness. It enters the circle of the close friends of Warhol in 1964. It develops an overflowing artistic activity; let us quote its Tit paintings (painted with its centres), its Cock Book (where each one is invited to share its interpretation of the penis) or its work on the Polaroïds. In 1975, it becomes employed with the magazine Interview, launched by Warhol. It is a close friend who will remain to him faithful.
  • Edie Sedgwick
Born in 1943. Warhol was fascinated by its facility, its will have elected which has all, beauty and money; it made its alter ego of it. One last year with the Factory (1965-1966) sets it up in the icon of the sixties, most known of the Superstars of which it becomes the prototype. It inspires Femme fatale with the Velvet Underground. Mannequin and actress warholienne -- about fifteen films -- it left on an argument and degraded a time with Bob Dylan (which dedicates Just like to him has woman ). The continuation is a long descent in drug. Of return in the Californian family bosom, she dies of overdose in 1971 to 28 years.

See also: Edie Sedgwick

  • Valerie Solanas
Can Valerie Solanas (1938-1988) be regarded as a Superstar ? She was actress in films of Andy Warhol, tried to assassinate it (she drew to him above, it was declared died clinically), became a feminist icon , intensely doped, prostitute borderline and died as she was born: in misery.

See also: Valerie Solanas

  • Ingrid Superstar
Ingrid von Schefflin (of other orthographies exist), large a little insane osseous blonde. Actress warholienne in several films between 1965 and 1967, date on which it leaves the Factory , then share with the drift: dope, prostitution, physical forfeiture. Disappears in 1987, left to buy cigarettes and ever returned.
  • International Velvet
Born Susan Bottomly in 1950, another poor rich little girl , fatal beauty, girl of a prosecutor of Boston, actress warholienne who filled the departure of Edie Sedgwick, between 1966 and 1967, then took the broad one. Currently lives in Hawaii. Born Isabelle Dufresne in 1935. Painter Frenchwoman, it leaves to New York. It meets El Salvador Dalí and Andy Warhol, which makes of it the first Superstar in 1964. Its look and its hair color lila give him its nickname. Important in Factory until 1967, it follows there the American scene of the years soixantes, Jasper Johns, Robert Rauschenberg and James Rosenquist. Currently lives in Nice. Of its true name Janet Hoffmann (born in 1938). Warhol found its nickname. Assiduous with the Factory in 1967 and 1968. Actress for Warhol, it scrambled herself with him and turned with other realizers. She passed to the writing for publications like the Village Voice , and of the books in particular on the Factory . Lives in California where it paints.
  • Chuck Wein
Born in 1940, graduate of Harvard in 1961. It presents Edie Sedgwick to Andy Warhol in January 1965, and became regular Factory . Intensively doped and insane Occultism, it leaves to travel throughout the World.
  • Holly Woodlawn
Of its true name Haroldo Danhakl (born in 1946), of Porto Rican origin and transsexual. She is Holly of Walk one the Wild Side of Lou Reed (which starts as follows: Holly comes from Miami, Fla… ). Actress noticed in Flesh , continues a career in the cinema, the theater, the cabaret and television. Solicited like memory warholienne. Live Hollywood.
  • Mary Woronov
Born in 1943, she dances during the exhibitions Exploding Plastic Inevitable with the Factory . Actress warholienne, it turns in several films between 1965 and 1967 of which Chelsea Girls . She continues her career while playing in many films worships of the American Série B. Mary Woronow is always actress and writer.
  • Let us quote also Lois Waldon, Geraldine Smith, David Perlman, Dorothy Dean, Jane Forth, Pat Hartley, Ivy Nicholson, Geri Miller, Naomi Levine…

From the attack of Valerie Solanas against him in 1968, Warhol reduces its accessibility. The era of the Superstars declines.

Visitors

Attended the Factory : Anita Pallenberg, Stephen Shore, Taylor Mead, The Velvet Underground (Lou Reed, Sterling Morrison, Moe Tucker and John Fixes), Freddie Herko, Brian Jones, Mick Jagger, Paul Morrissey, Truman Capote, Fernando Arrabal, Penny Arcade, Bobby Driscoll, Herbert Muschamp, John Giorno, Henry Geldzahler, Jack Smith and well of others still.

Anecdotes

The history of the Factory swarms with anecdotes which assoient its myth.
  • Screen test - the trick of Warhol to attract the unknown ones in Factory and to decide on their new statute of Superstar is to invite them to pass from the Screen test (screen test) for its films.
  • One should not trust with the image of perpetual festival which Factory releases; day and night, it was an intensive work place . “ It was called The Factory (the factory) for nothing. It was an assembly line of serigraphies. While a person manufactured a serigraphy, another could film a screen test. The every day there was something of nine ” (John Cale).
  • The Couch - Settee mythical of the Silver Factory , found in the 47e street by Billy Name, and on which the many protagonists of the parties given lost shape then. Will be used in the films Couch and Blow job . It will be stolen in the street during the removal of the Factory in 1968.
  • It is Andy Warhol which is the author of the famous quotation promising that in the future “ each one will be famous during 15 minutes”.
  • Nombres of accustomed Factory appears in the scene of festival of the film Midnight Cowboy , turned at the end of June 1968 whereas Warhol was hospitalized following the aggression of Valerie Solanas.
  • is 17 years old, the photographer Stephen Shore meets Warhol, which enables him to take photographs of the Silver Factory , which it did during 3 years. Other photographers: Billy Name and Nat Finkelstein.

See too

Internal bonds

External bonds

  • Warholstars.org, site on Superstars warholiennes
  • Site of Billy Name, with many images
  • Site of Nat Finkelstein, with many images
  • Site Factorymade.org, many resources
  • Site of the '' Max' S Kansas City '', club annexes to Factory
  • Site of Gerald Malanga, some images
  • Site of Bibbe Hansen
  • Site of Ultra-violet

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