This 13"h x 19"w overall (9.5"h x 14"w image size) digital photographic print on Epson Professional Photo paper is from an edition of 50 total prints signed, numbered and titled by the artist, photographer Nat Finkelstein (on verso). Published in 2007.
Artist Andy Warhol had his first major art exhibition at the Institute of Contemporary Art (ICA) at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia in October and November of 1965. "Warhol-mania" was in full-swing at the time (the museum was mobbed with fans and other onlookers) and so Warhol brought an entourage with him for the opening of the exhibition. Other Factory friends in attendance included Edie Sedgwick, Gerard Malanga, Sam Green and Taylor Mead.
The Velvet Underground (aka The Velvets or The VU) were organized in the mid-1960's in New York City and, although they were not commercially successful during their time, the Velvet Underground have been regarded as one of the most important and influential groups of their era. Artist Andy Warhol became the band's manager in 1965 and his financial backing gave them the freedom to experiment broadly with their musical output. The band received wide public exposure as part of Warhol's travelling multimedia extravaganzas (featuring film projections and lighting by Warhol) dubbed the "Exploding Plastic Inevitable", touring regularly through mid-1967.
Personnel changes kept the VU's EPI line-up in flux until the "classic roster" (Lou Reed on vocals/guitar, Sterling Morrison on guitar, Welshman John Cale on viola and keyboards, Maureen Tucker on drums and German-born singer Nico providing additional vocals) jelled in 1966 for the recording of their “the banana album” - aka The Velvet Underground and Nico - which was released in early 1967 on Verve Records (with Warhol credited as a "producer"). The record featured 3 songs sung by Nico (at Warhol's insistence), and people weren’t quite sure what to make of it – it was that different and startling in so many aspects. At the time, the record peaked at #171 on the Top 200 charts, but all these years later, it is still generally referenced as the record that “alternative” artists and styles (including “goth”, “glam”, “punk” and “noise” music) grew and drew their inspiration from.
The album also featured a now-famous Warhol design on its cover - a large yellow banana with the words “peel slowly and see” printed near a perforated tab. Removing the banana skin revealed a pink, peeled banana underneath.
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