An Evening at Martin Lawrence Gallery, Soho
Disco King Meets Rock ‘n’ Roll Legend and the Dell Dude

 

 Mark Bego, taking a break from his 150,000 word tome on Billy Joel was describing a previous book he wrote on Joni Mitchell.  He told me that he chanced upon her backstage at the Grammies a few years ago.  She was there to pick an award for Best Art Direction on an album.  Those prizes are given out in the afternoon, way before the telecast and Mark had an all-access pass.  She won for her self-portrait after van Gogh, bandaged ear and all.  Mark corralled her and they spoke of art for half an hour.  She chain-smoked all the while.  Jim Marshall, who is showing around the corner at the Morrison Hotel, described Joni as the most talented out of all the people he ever photographed and we’re talking Duke Ellington to Bob Dylan.  Mark was here because he’s a Warhol collector and it was “The Pop Art: Cool and Cheap" show (Now there’s an oxymoron if ever there was one) show at the Gallery.  Warhol, Basquiat, pin-up artists Mel Ramos, Haring.  “I bought ‘Watercolor Paintkit’ here at Martin Lawrence.  I knew Andy from the party circuit and I’m very happy to have known him.  Tonight is like a party of friends–old and new,” he said, “Randy and I go back thirty years.”  Randy Jones, that is, the original cowboy in the Village People.
–VB FORBES