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*photos by Kari Skaflen

The Factory

I was seated at the MAC booth having my make up 60s-ized when I noticed a blue-faced woman making her way towards us.  As she approached she called out, “Marilyn needs some lipstick.”  There she was in the flesh, Andy Warhol’s Blue Marilyn. I had to pinch myself. No, this wasn’t a dream; this was Facets Multi-Media’s ‘A Night at the Factory’ benefit.  

Marilyn wasn’t the only costumed guest; I encountered several Andys and a variety of other ironically dressed invitees.  One woman even came befittingly as a Campbell’s soup can.  Costumed or elegantly dressed, the ambiance of the evening was contagious and guests reveled in the playful mood. 

The raw space on the top floor of the MCA warehouse was transformed into a replica of Warhol’s iconic factory.  Exposed brick became a massive projection screen where films played silently, square silver clouds a la Andy decorated the air and ceremonious soup cans were scattered throughout. Posters and other memorabilia decorated the vast warehouse. Tables scattered throughout the rooms were decorated with vases of colorful daisies and sprinkled with candy ‘pills’.

 Different stations were spread out across the space and included live screen-printing of ‘A Night at the Factory’ tees. MAC cosmetics donated complimentary makeovers, and the raffle table was resplendent with fantastic prizes.  But the biggest crowd pleaser of the night came when the Velvet Revolver cover band played.

Although the party ended, the creativity and vivacity generated at ‘A Night at the Factory’ will carry over into a weeklong symposium on Andy Warhol’s influence on film at Facets. Films, lectures, memorabilia and documents rarely seen will all be available for viewing.  For information on Facets, please visit www.facets.org.

-Kari Skaflen