The Andy Warhol Myths Series and Studio

			Introduction The Man Behind the Myths Before Your Visit During Your Visit Print Studio What is Photo Silk Screen? Making Connections to Warhol's Art Across the Curriculum Activities
		Introduction Mythology is not just about the Greek gods and goddesses of long ago. Every culture has its own myths and mythical characters that help describe the values that are important to people. Some myths are told as stories from one generation to another. Modern myths can be found in magazines, movies or television. Famed artist Andy Warhol used media sources for favorite American myths in his Myths Series. In 1981 he created photo screen prints of imaginary characters that influenced children growing up in mid-century America. Six of these prints, Mickey Mouse, The Shadow, Santa Claus, Howdy Doody, Superman and Uncle Sam are in this traveling exhibit developed by The Pittsburgh Children's Museum in Pittsburgh, Penn, Warhol's hometown. While visiting the exhibit, examine close-up the larger-than-life, 40 inch by 40 inch original prints. Children and adults alike will delight in the diamond dust Warhol sprinkled on some of these works. Warhol is known as one of the founders of "Pop Art," which is about the popular images in a culture designed to communicate, persuade, entertain, sell or advertise. Warhol's subjects were people or objects that everyone had seen many times before. Warhol used intense colors and bold shapes to jolt viewers into seeing them in new ways. Warhol once said, "I paint things I always thought beautiful -- things you use every day and never think about." >>