The Woman Behind Warhol

Andy Warhol's influences included movie stars, consumer goods, and newspaper headlines. Yet it was Julia Warhola who made the biggest impact on Andy's life and career, says Elaine Rusinko.

Her new book is Andy Warhol's Mother. It is to be published by the University of Pittsburgh Press in November, and recounts a game the subject used to play with her children. She'd ask them to draw a cow, and Andy--who went on to create cow wallpaper--would always win. Perhaps the animal was chosen because the emigrant grew up on a farm. 

At any rate, Rusinko is sure that Andy's series of soup cans and flowers are linked to the repetition of icons and prayers in Cartho-Rusyn churches. She shares this heritage with the Warholas, and spends a great deal of time examining their history and religious practices. It's what drew her to the pop maestro, who got holy water to sprinkle around his home after open cans of turpentine started a blaze.

And some of Andy's gifts for business associates--decorated eggs-- were reminiscent of painted eggs, a popular Rusyn folk art form.

Julia created art, too. When Andy was four years old, he accompanied his mom as she went door-to-door in their Pittsburgh neighborhood, attempting to sell her flower sculptures, made of crepe paper and tin cans. When he became ill, Julia would watch him sleep. Perhaps this was on the artist's mind when in 1964, he filmed his dormant boyfriend for Sleep.

Julia, who appeared on-screen, too, contributed calligraphy to Andy's pictures, and created some of her own drawings. 

The matron had a basement apartment in her son's New York home, where she often shared stories of the Old Country with Andy and his friends. 

It is interesting that the author's best sources came from Warhol himself--hundreds of cardboard boxes known as Time Capsules, containing everything from ticket stubs to articles of his mother's clothing. Also welcome is the look into Julia and Andy's close relationship--and learning how the filmmaker helped out other relatives financially.  This is likely a revelation for some of his employees, who complained they weren't paid enough.