In a first for any Parliament, the Scottish Parliament is set to host an exhibition of more than forty Andy Warhol works of art exploring the themes of power and politics.
Including Andy Warhol’s Flash-November 22, 1963 screen prints about the assassination of John F. Kennedy and his portrait of Scots-American philanthropist Andrew Carnegie, the exhibition has been carefully selected for display at the Parliament and many of the works are being shown in Scotland for the first time.
The announcement of this unique exhibition follows an agreement signed today by the Presiding Officer the Rt Hon Tricia Marwick MSP and the Chair of the Carnegie UK Trust, Angus Hogg with Eric Shiner, Director of The Andy Warhol Museum in Pittsburgh.
The meeting took place during the Presiding Officer’s Scotland Week programme and follows on last year’s Scotland Week announcement that the Carnegie Medal of Philanthropy would return to Holyrood in 2013.
Speaking from Pittsburgh, the Presiding Officer, Rt Hon Tricia Marwick MSP said:-“It gives me great pleasure to sign this agreement which will bring over 40 of Warhol’s iconic pieces to the Scottish Parliament, particularly knowing that we will be the first Parliament ever to have the privilege to do so. It is a unique opportunity to view Warhol’s works as they explore the role of power and politics in modern life, within the home of debate in Scotland, our Parliament.
“As a graduate of Carnegie Mellon University, Andy Warhol benefited personally from Andrew Carnegie’s legacy. It is therefore fitting that this exhibition will form part of a series of activities to mark Andrew Carnegie’s international legacy at Holyrood. As well as learning more about the work of Warhol, visitors can learn about the life of Andrew Carnegie and how his philanthropy has inspired generations on both sides of the Atlantic. I hope as many people as possible will visit Holyrood to enjoy the exhibition, both those from Scotland and from further afield.”
The exhibition will be held at Holyrood from Friday 4 October – Sunday 3 November, to coincide with the ‘Andrew Carnegie International Legacy: Shaping the Future’ activities taking place at the Scottish Parliament.
Chairman of Carnegie UK Trust, Angus Hogg said:-“Andrew Carnegie envisioned a world of peace, wellbeing and opportunity and Carnegie foundations around the globe have invested more than 100 years and billions of pounds and dollars in the physical, social, cultural and intellectual infrastructure of society. We have a long history of promoting access to arts and culture.
“The focus of our festival of events will be on the emerging challenges of the 21st Century and the role of philanthropy in modern society. The Carnegie institutions of today address the real issues facing the communities where they operate and our international festival will celebrate philanthropic efforts across the globe.”
Eric Shiner, Director at the Andy Warhol Museum in Pittsburgh, said:-“The items we are sharing with the Carnegie UK Trust have been hand-picked to represent the full gamut of Warhol’s life and work. Some are very recognisable while others will give the British public an opportunity to learn more about Warhol’s approach to art and life. We are delighted to be sharing some of our permanent collection – it may be the only opportunity some people in the UK will have to see an original Warhol.”
Founding Editor of The Edinburgh Reporter.
Edinburgh-born multimedia journalist and iPhoneographer.
The Carnegie Dunfermline Trust went from riches to rags. The Trust, formed in 1903 had by 1953 accumulated an over-abundance of wealth, yet just 22 years later in 1975 they hadn’t enough money to cut the grass in Pittencrieff Park (the Glen) and had to petition the local council to bail them out.
This led to the Trust maintaining ownership of the Glen, but the upkeep and maintenance and associated costs being transferred to the rate-payers of the Dunfermline district.
The Trust then secretly changed its charter to allow it to petition for charity and sell off parts of the Glen and now, with its partner in penury, Fife Council it competes with small voluntary sector groups for a share of the HLF.
Andrew Carnegie’s corpse must be birlin like a peerie in Sleepy Hollow.
See: http://www.tomminogue.com/blog2.php
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