On July 25 and 26, 1964--from 8:06 p.m. to 2:42 a.m.--Andy Warhol turned his camera to the iconic Empire State Building in New York City. Those six uninterrupted hours were then stretched into an 8-hour-long silent film: Empire.
Now, the world is celebrating the 50th anniversary of Warhol's grand experiment.
Last Friday, the Empire State Building was illuminated with thousands of white lights for Empire, the film's, golden half-centenary.
Continuing through July 31, the film will be shown continuously in the building's Fifth Ave. lobby windows-- accompanied by images of Warhol's most famous pop art.
From the 41st floor of the Time-Life building (and the offices of the Rockefeller Foundation), Warhol and Jonas Mekas shot a film that still stands as tall as the edifice, itself.
Be sure, then, to say "Happy Birthday!" to all.
