ALEX GALAN | DATE 6/24/2010

The Autobiography and Sex Life of Andy Warhol at the New York Public Library

The ghost of Andy Warhol was spotted at the New York Public Library on Wednesday, June 23rd where over 200 gathered to hear Factory Superstars Taylor Mead, Gretchen Berg, Bibbe Hanson, Gerard Malanga, and John Wilcock on a panel moderated by Dr. Steven Watson and celebrating John Wilcock's revealing new book The Autobiography and Sex Life of Andy Warhol, a new edition of a book of interviews and photographs that includes many unseen images by the photographers Shunk-Kender.

Dr. Steven Watson, Bibbe Hanson, John Wilcock, Taylor Mead, Gretchen Berg, Gerard Malanga.

Wilcock was co-founder of Interview Magazine and the Village Voice and was a regular fixture at the Warhol Factory during the seminal years of the 1960s. The speakers painted Warhol's picture anew with colorful anecdotes and ribald stories. Bibbe Hanson, mother of musician Beck, told the story of how she met Warhol when she was 14 years old on the day her dad had sprung her from juvenile detention. Warhol promptly asked her to star in a film about prison opposite that other bad girl Edie Sedgwick. Warhol's assistant and Velvet Underground member Gerard Malanga went through the list of lovers in Warhol's life pointing out the beautiful Jed Johnson as the one who got closest. Taylor Mead recounted shooting Warhol's first big film Tarzan and Jane at the Beverly Hill's Hotel and having Dennis Hopper do stand in for a scene involving climbing for coconuts. The most moving account came from Gretchen Berg who likened meeting Warhol to coming face to face with a zen master, an experience she says changed her life. The evening ended at the subMercer lounge in Soho with pumping disco music, a mix of Warhol Superstars, young hipsters and assorted hangers on and of course a few paparazzi. Viva Warhol!

Dustin Pittman and Taylor Mead

Christopher Trela, John Wilcock, Taylor Mead, and Gerard Malanga

Dr. Steven Watson and Warhol Superstar Bibbe Hanson

Gretchen Berg and Gerard Malanga

Little Joey, Bibbe Hanson, John Wilcock, Taylor Mead, Gretchen Berg

Artist Conrad Ventur, writer Regina Weinreich, Art+Auction's Sarah Douglas, Justin Conner

Party goers and Hintmag's Lee Carter at right