Hundreds turn out for Warhol Aurora Summer Kickoff

Posted June 09, 2023 11:00 pm

By Clayton Muhammad City of Aurora

The Electro Retro Band played some of the most popular hits of the Studio 54 area of late 1970s, early '80s music for Aurora's Color Me Warhol Kickoff Celebration in downtown. Nearly 1,000 people turned out for the block party. Courtesy of City of Aurora

It was a party with a purpose in Aurora Thursday night.

The purpose was to celebrate iconic artist Andy Warhol while attracting residents and visitors to the downtown business district.

Hundreds danced the night away at Aurora's kick-off to its Color Me Warhol Summer Experience with a special Studio 54 Celebration in the heart of downtown, which now features several outdoor art installations and two indoor galleries focused on Warhol and pop art.

Andy Warhol-inspired Pop Art, like the iconic Campbell's Soup Cans, are on display in Aurora throughout the summer. Courtesy of City of Aurora

Mayor Richard Irvin, dressed in authentic 1970s clothes, hosted the ribbon cutting ceremony followed by performances by a Michael Jackson impersonator who had the young and old mimicking his moves and two hours of oldies but goodies songs from the Studio 54 era.

There were food trucks, restaurant deals, and arts & crafts for the kids.

Aurora is one of 26 cities in DuPage County and the greater Fox Valley area participating in the Warhol Summer Experience inspired by the College of DuPage's new Andy Warhol exhibit.

The regional approach to art and marketing is aimed at increasing tourism and business.

"Nobody does it like Aurora," said Diana Martinez, executive director of the College of DuPage's McAnich Center for the Arts and the visionary beyond this summer's regional experience. "Wow Wow Wow! Tonight is beyond expectations. Aurora is filled with artists and a city government that supports the arts."

"WARHOL," a new 11,000-square-foot exhibition of the renowned artist's life and work, runs through Sept. 10 at the Cleve Carney Museum of Art and the McAninch Arts Center at the College of DuPage in Glen Ellyn. Courtesy of College of DuPage

Warhol-inspired art in Aurora will remain on display throughout the summer.

Aurora will host two more "Studio 54 on Stolp" celebrations, the next one on Thursday, July 13, from 5 to 9 p.m., and the final one will be held on what would have been Warhol's 95th birthday on Sunday, Aug. 6, from noon to 3 p.m.

Visit www.aurora-il.org/Warhol for more upcoming events.

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