1977 Unpublished Interview on "Athletes Series" - SIGNED Original Audio Cassette with 40 MINUTES OF RECORDED INTERVIEW

Original cassette tape, autographed by the artist himself, of a 1977 interview with Warhol conducted by a journalist for Australian Women's Weekly. Together with a clipping of the article that resulted, about Warhol's new "Athletes Series." Warhol has signed on a strip of masking tape on the cassette (acting on his own suggestion that the interviewer should ask all her subjects to sign their tapes!). Audio in fine quality, with a slight background humming and one period of lower volume, but voices distinct throughout. The signed strip of tape measures 3 x 0.25 inches (7 x 0.5 cm). Together with a signed and notarized letter from the interviewer. A unique item from the influential artist.

The tape contains 40 minutes of audio, which was quoted in the article but has never been released or published in full. The purpose of the interview, conducted at Warhol’s Factory in New York's Union Square (in an area that once had been the boardroom of S & H Green Stamps), was to discuss his series of portraits of top athletes, commissioned earlier that year by Richard L. Weisman. Weisman sits in on the interview as well. Voices heard are those of Warhol, Weisman and Kathleen Brady, who conducted the article, as well as some of Warhol’s staff. Warhol discusses his love of the Polaroid Big Shot camera; his telling Muhammad Ali to be quiet so he could take his photo; Australia's appreciation for contemporary art, especially Pollock's Blue Poles; and the beauty of New York's Twin Towers. He describes O.J. Simpson as “so interesting” and "beautiful," also commenting that Campbell's Soup should be served on airplanes, among other topics. Weisman has particular praise for Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. On side 2, three minutes of the tape are faint because Warhol, Weisman and Brady stepped away from the recorder and towards some of the art under discussion.

Richard Weisman commissioned 8 sets of the "Athlete Series," hand-painted and silk-screened images of sports stars including O.J. Simpson, Pele, Jack Nicklaus, and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, from Warhol in 1977, paying $800,000 for 80 pieces. After donating several sets of the prints to universities, the athletes themselves, and several sports halls of fame, Weisman lost the remaining sets in a 2009 theft from his home. (14538)

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Signed Document/Item

Art & Design

• Sold