The Student Activities Board (SAB) is sponsoring a trip to the Andy Warhol Museum on Oct. 8. The museum features the largest collection of Andy Warhol’s work in the world. According to the website, the museum is “one of the most comprehensive single-artist museums in the world and the largest in North America.”
Andy Warhol was among the original creators of pop art that became popular in the 1950s.
Warhol’s creation of “Campbell’s Soup Cans” pushed him into the mainstream, though most people connect Warhol’s name with his work featuring Marilyn Monroe.
The museum’s seven floors each represent a different aspect of Warhol and his works.
Floors seven through four breaks down each era of Warhol’s work, from his early pieces all the way through the 1980s. An additional floor stands as a temporary exhibition gallery.
Two floors in the museum are dedicated completely to archiving, restoring and preserving his work.
On predesignated dates and times, the underground offers visitors an educational experience of what the factory would have been like. To non-art majors, Warhol’s art “sparks interest no matter where you’re from” and has “something for all people.”
Though unique in itself, this is not the first visit Waynesburg University has made to this museum. In fact, the previous Arts and Culture committee head Mary Beth Cocchi said SAB makes a trip to the Warhol every year, as it’s such a distinguished museum as well as a top Pittsburgh destination.
“It’s just one of those significant Pittsburgh landmarks. Everyone has heard of Andy Warhol in some capacity,” said Cocchi. “Seeing that awesome progression of his work is something I know is just very well liked and appreciated about the museum.”
Cocchi herself is a nursing major currently working through her clinicals, but she, too, enjoyed her trip to the Warhol museum.
Pat Bristor, associate dean of students, described the trip as pretty laid-back and not overly structured. The students who attend will be encouraged to explore at their own pace and via their own interests.
Bristor estimated that their return to the university will be around 5:30 p.m.
The group will stop for dinner on the way back to ensure everyone gets to eat, just in case their arrival back at the University does not coincide with Benedum’s Sunday hours.
Cocchi added that the included dinner stop could make the trip into a nice date night with a group of friends or a significant other.
“Art speaks to so many different people and backgrounds and kind of cuts through those divides of major and interest because it just kind of speaks to who you are and you can just interpret it yourself,” said Cocchi.
Oct. 6 is the last day to sign up, via a form on MyConnect. The cost of attending is only $10, which includes lunch and can be paid with a card directly from the form or in cash to the Student Center.