On a recent episode of Alec Baldwin’s WNYC podcast (how could that growl not get a podcast?) Here’s the Thing, Baldwin chats with Eric Shiner, director of The Andy Warhol Museum. The two men talk about Warhol’s prolific career, the way his films helped pioneer reality television, and his deep connection with his mother.
“Everything goes back to Andy’s mother,” explains Shiner. For instance, Julia Warhola (an artist herself) served Campbell’s Soup to her son every day. He genuinely loved the soup and, of course, it became an iconic item in his body of work.
Baldwin and Shiner also discuss the museum itself. “I would say that we’re in the 95 percent range in terms of what we have,” explains Shiner. “We’re really only missing about 10 prime examples of specific paintings from specific series.” As you might imagine, the collection at The Andy Warhol Museum is expansive. The seven-floor building houses over 900 paintings, 4,000 photos, 100 sculptures and 60 feature films.
Baldwin is a perceptive and prepared interviewer, and his conversation with Shiner goes beyond retreading the same familiar handful of Warhol anecdotes. Listen to the episode here.
