On Friday evening the Walker filled with dazzling colors, 1960’s pop hits, sushi-art making, carnival games, and a karaoke party. There was even a Ferris wheel lit with psychedelic colors, that seemed to dance into the Minneapolis skyline. Served were international hot dogs, day-glo donuts, and Fizz Bang Pop cocktails. Hundreds came to celebrate the opening of International Pop, ready to show off their best threads from that iconic era. The exhibition reexamines Pop art through a multicultural lens, including artwork from international artists such as Czech artist Jiří Kolář and Brazilian artist Antonio Manuel. Although important American figures of the period are featured, such as Andy Warhol and Roy Lichtenstein, they aren’t the only stars of the show. Instead, they share the stage equally with non-American works. This capacious approach to Pop allowed for other themes such as Brazillian neo-concretism, protofeminism, and political criticisms to come to discussion. The Walker-organized exhibition will be in Minneapolis through August before traveling to the Dallas Museum of Art and the Philadelphia Museum of Art.
These two had no hesitations to truly embody the look of the era. Smiling, they exclaimed, “We’ve been friends for ten years!” No wonder their jumpsuits were so well coordinated.
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