Take a look at this letter (click on the image for a larger view) dated 1956 from the Museum of Modern Art in New York to Andy Warhol. It is in reference to an artwork Warhol submitted for inclusion into MOMA's permanent collection. He was gently but soundly denied. We can all empathize with Warhol's plight. As artists, rejection comes with the territory. We have all received letters that begin something like: " We regret to inform you" and end something like: "Good luck with all your future endeavours". More often than not, these letters soon hit the bottom of a trash can or if sent by e-mail, are emphatically deleted into Hades. Andy Warhol kept his rejection letter though. Perhaps it was just the motivation he needed to keep on working. Maybe it was just the spark he needed to keep doing his thing and in the 1960's, his thing turned him into a Pop Art icon and one of the most influential artists of the 20th century. It's probably safe to say that is one letter MOMA wishes it had back. Andy Warhol definitely made the most of his 15 minutes, perhaps with a little perseverance we can too.
Talk with you later,
Donkeypump
P.S.- K Space Contemporary board member, Syliva Samaniego, graciously shared this Andy Warhol letter with me after finding a copy of it in a purse she recently purchased. Thanks again for sharing with us.
