Warhol participates in city’s first Humanities Festival with performance
Photo courtesy of New York Live Arts
Artist Cynthia Hopkins performed her one-woman A Living Documentary at the Andy Warhol Museum Saturday, March 28 as part of the first annual Pittsburgh Humanities Festival.
By Sabrina Romano
Cynthia Hopkins’ performance of her A Living Documentary as part of the first annual Pittsburgh Humanities Festival at the Andy Warhol Museum on Saturday, March 28 was nothing short of bold.
Ben Hamilton, the curator of Performing Arts and Public Programs at the Warhol Museum, was the one who chose to have Hopkins perform. Her performance is similar to the Warhol’s “Off the Wall” series which ran from 2003-2013, according to Hamilton.
“I think it is an alternative theatre experience,” Hamilton said. “What they would gain is a unique perspective. A different perspective from someone who has had an acclaimed career in NYC. It’s not mainstream theater. It’s not playwright driven theater.”
Hamilton was intrigued by the idea of a one-woman show and thought the museum’s 130-seat theatre would be an intimate space for such a performance.
“The whole piece is driven on a song cycle. She is wearing different costumes and playing different characters,” Hamilton said.
David Downing, a resident of Squirrel Hill, found the show to be a combination of many emotions.
“I thought it was great,” Downing said. “I think she’s amazing. It was so unusual, exuberant, and scathingly sarcastic.”
Danni Zhang, a Carnegie Mellon student earning her masters in Video and Media Design, enjoyed the play and appreciated the balance in Hopkins’ performance.
“It’s awesome. I am starting drama so if you a performance artist, she is talking to us in a way,” Zhang said. “It’s funny but it also makes you think.”
Hamilton was glad that the Warhol Museum participated in the Pittsburgh Humanities Festival and found the weekend to be successful.
“I think it is important to the city and the museum. These are important conversations to have,” Hamilton said. “I think thinking of it as the first step, as a first edition, I thin k the scale is really commendable and really nice. I like that it’s all condensed into the downtown district and easy to find.”
Dave Vannater (left) and Todd Barr (right) are enjoying drinks at the Andy Warhol Museum before Cynthia Hopkins’ performance of A Living Documentary as part of the first annual Pittsburgh Humanities Festival on Saturday, March 28.
