Factory Night: Weird Korea

Factory Night at the Neuberger here at Purchase went really well. The atmosphere was laid back and a little retro. There were a couple of people who dressed up in some really funky clothes. One guy even came in a mask because he thought it was like a halloween party.

Everyone was really into the art in both the "Pop Politics" and "Snapshots." What I love about both exhibits is that they cast Andy Warhol in a different light than what we usually see him. We tend to think about him as the guy who did the campbell's soup cans and Marilyn Monroe but his career was so much more than that. This exhibits looks more into his later career and all the things he did. It has footage that he directed or was included on his t.v network as well as stuff from his magazine Interview.

While he was mostly based in New York City, he often brushed elbows with many powerful political figure heads of his time both domestic and international. He often sought and was sought after for commissions of these powerful people and show how they not only exhibited power but also a sort of fame that came with it that is not always noted. He turn them into icons. While he didn't outright show any kind of political leanings, it is interesting how he interpets their persona like the Mao image he used because he was interested in the way it flooded both China as propaganda and American media as a result of Nixon visit to China.

There was food, art and music and there's no better comboination than that. The deejay was pretty good but I think the live band killed it and made the event so much more fun. They did some good Velevet Underground covers but what I liked the most was how they incorprated a projected images, many of Nixon which fit into the theme, into their performance which give it an interesting touch. And it made the experience that much more eciting. Plus theyhad fake blood and what's a party without some blood?

For Pics of the event visit: http://tinyurl.com/ab2hax

Jeffree Star

I was browsing around myspace music looking for some new music the other day. I clicked on the Top 10 list and saw some chick named Jeffree Star and clicked on the profile picture. Up popped this page that was white with this sickingly pink all over and a pic of this flat chested looking girl with bubblegum pink hair. Then through my headphones, filtered this uber-techno beat and this very mascline voice singing about being faomus and cupcakes. It was then that i realize that Jeffree Star was a man in women's clothing. (he's pretty much like Perez Hilton if he were slender and decided he wanted to be a singer).Being from the city and going to an art schools, i no stranger to drag queens and transgender individuals. In fact i have always had an odd fascination with the idea of men in women's clothes. However, this person had to be one of the most convicing queen i have ever seen. His image from his obnoxious pink hair to his multi-colored eye make up to his pin style posed pictures was so well crafted. It amazed me. His music was your usually techno beat but the lyrics were really ranuchy and one song, "Lollipop Luxury," was all about gay sex but in a way it worked for him. I don't even like the music all that much but i have found meself repeatly coming back to his page listening to music that is annonyingly catchy at best.It really makes me think how many times these performers that we often listen have an image that was carefully crafted in order to make them that more interesting and saleable. I don't think i would be half as interested in this guy had he been in dressed what we usually consider men's clothing. The fact that he has long hair and dresses in heels and bathing suits and carry himself better than most women that i have meet makes him that much more interesting hence makes his music interesting. Or it could be that i'm just really weird and have a odd platonic attraction to the idea of boys in dresses.

Check him out @ Jeffree Star

Factory Party @ Purchase: Stage One

This month, the Neu will be opening a new exhibit showing polaroids and silk-screens created by Andy Warhol (who is my favorite artist). I'm really excited about the exhibit. A few other people and i decided to create a costume party @ the museum where students can come dressed up like the people depicted in the artwork displayed or in clothing of the 60s and 70s ('cause the one thing people @ Purchase likes to do is dress up). We came up with the idea of getting both live entertainment and a D.J. A girl in the committee knew a D.J based in Brooklyn who was willing to do it close to no money and who had vintage records from the 60s and 70s that he could play. Since the Velvet Underground was such a big part of the time, we figured we should get a band to cover their songs and since Purchase is full of talented and dedicated bands, we might as well hire one. So yesterday, I created and posted a couple of flyers around campus, advertise the gig. I already got one hit hopefully I get a couple of more.