Cranbrook to exhibit Andy Warhol record covers | Detroit Metro Times

June 19, 2014

by Lee DeVito, Metro Times Detroit

You probably already know about the iconic Velvet Underground “banana” cover, but artist Andy Warhol actually designed sleeves for many other artists as well. This month, Cranbrook Art Museum will host Warhol On Vinyl: The Record Covers, 1949-1987+, which exhibits dozens of record sleeves designed by the artist. The collection, a recent gift to the museum, features five recently discovered album covers from the 1950s that have never been exhibited before.

According to a press release, “the album covers range from the extremely rare to the widely recognizable; together they offer a unique lens to survey the artist’s career from a young graphic designer to a cultural phenomenon. At the same time, the exhibition documents the history of the mass-produced vinyl record and the zeitgeist of these eras through the inclusion of music, video, and artworks from the Museum’s extensive Andy Warhol collection.”

An opening reception for ArtMembers on June 20 from 6 to 10 p.m. featuring the music of Nuclassica and the Music Institute at Cranbrook. The exhibition is open to the public on June 21. On Sunday, June 22, Cranbrook hosts the PNC Bank Family Fun Celebration, which features music by Thumbs Up!, “Michigan’s premier ukelele band” playing the songs of the Velvet Underground.