National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library

Works by Warhol from the Cochran Collection featured two dozen original large prints created from 1974 to 1987, including a rare set of his silkscreen series "Cowboys and Indians." Other pieces in the exhibit include iconographic images of Mick Jagger, Mickey Mouse, and the moon walk of astronaut Buzz Aldrin. The exhibition closed March 11, 2007.

Why Warhol at a Czech and Slovak museum? With a name and life of legendary status, it isn’t well remembered that Andy Warhol was Slovak. Born in 1928 as Andrew Warhola in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, his art built upon the folk tradition, undoubtedly influenced by his folk artist mother, of exploring the ordinary, of finding and redefining images found around us everyday. In so doing he came to dominate a wild and popular movement known as Pop Art, became a celebrity of the highest order, and created some of the most indelible images of the second half of the 20^th century.

Andy Warhol was the youngest of three sons born to Ondrej and Julia (Zavacky) Warhola. Andy’s father left the village of Mikova in an isolated part of the eastern Carpathian Mountains in what is now northeastern Slovakia and came to the United States in 1912. His mother was forced to wait until 1921 to join him, in the interim seeing her village ravaged by World War I.

The NCSML exhibit was especially fortunate to feature a complete set of Warhol’s series "Cowboys and Indians" (1986). Though not as well known as his other work, these prints are significant in the illumination of America’s collective mythicizing of the West. The first print of the series, Indian Head Nickel, reproduces in silvery tones the familiar noble profile of an American Indian which formerly appeared on the U.S. five-cent piece. The ironies are multiple. Warhol first of all focuses the viewer’s attention on the inherent contrariety of depicting the vanquished red man on an American coin, the money of his conqueror. The artist reinforces this irony, moreover, by outlining in black the word "Liberty" inscribed near the coin’s circumference.

In contrast to the Indian’s fierce nobility is the taciturn self-satisfaction of General Custer, his arms folded, his gaze directed toward the distance. Warhol’s print John Wayne began with a publicity shot for the actor’s 1962 film, The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance, recreating a popular figure in America’s romanticizing of the West. Wayne embodies the stalwart cowboy: righteous, quick on the trigger, and hesitant of speech.

Perhaps the piece warranting the most emotional response from the series is that of "Geronimo." Warhol’s drawing of Geronimo was lifted from a photograph of him taken in the late 1800s. In the photograph, Geronimo sits with a rifle, looking angry. Warhol chose to focus on his face, and seems to have altered the expression from angry to sad, nearly to the point of bringing Geronimo to the verge of tears.

Also in the exhibit were two prints titled Moonwalk (1987) from a series that Warhol’s sudden death left unfinished. By affixing his initials in neon colors to Buzz Aldrin’s helmet, the artist has staked claim to the image, as it were, just as the astronaut planted the United States flag on the moon.

Major support for this exhibit was received from Rockwell Collins, CRST International Fund of the Greater Cedar Rapids Community Foundation, and Linn County Supervisors Witwer Trust Fund.

Indian Head Nickel Silkscreen 1986

"Indian Head Nickel" is done in silvery tones. It is a reproduction of the profile of a Native American that originally appeared on the U.S. five-cent piece. Warhol’s commentary about the United States government’s treatment of Native Americans is evident in his choice to emphasize the word "Liberty" by outlining it in black.

General Custer Silkscreen 1986

Warhol depicts "General Custer" in profile with his arms folded, his gaze directed toward the distance. In contrast to "Indian Head Nickel," Warhol chose to use vibrant and electric colors to outline the general’s features.

John Wayne Silkscreen 1986

The inspiration for "John Wayne" came from a publicity shot for the 1962 film, The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance. Wayne was a well-known and popular actor in Western films. More than any other actor, Wayne embodies America’s romantic notions about the cowboy: unemotional, hard-working, quick to shoot and slow to speak.

Geronimo Silkscreen 1986

Moonwalk Silkscreen 1987

Due to his sudden death, Warhol was unable to finish two prints titled "Moonwalk" (1987). Using a very bright, neon paint, he put his initials "AW" on Buzz Aldrin’s helmet.

Special exhibits are funded by gifts used to support the NCSML's exhibits. Go to the Exhibit Support page for more information.

For more information about exhibits, contact Edith Blanchard, Curator, at 319-362-8500 or eblanchard@ncsml.org