12/29/2023 0 Comments Cynthia albritton collection“She smashed the barriers of sexual conversation and helped open up people’s minds to the endless possibilities of art. Unlike his sculpture, Wayne Kramer was anything but soft about her legacy, I haven’t seen any of these sculptures, but I can confidently say that once you’ve seen one… you’ve seen them both.Ĭynthia Albritton passed away last Thursday at the age of 74. After an art teacher’s assignment to plaster cast something solid that could retain its shape,' Cynthia devised a brilliant idea of using the assignment as a way to lure male rock stars. 1947) has been producing her legendary plaster casts since a young college student in the mid 1960’s. Karen O, the lead singer of the “Yeah Yeah Yeahs” was one of her subjects. Chicago-based artist Cynthia Plaster Caster (b. Later in her career she added women’s breasts. She shared with “The Sunday Age” that, “he was the first person in the world to tell me I was an artist.”Īlbritton didn’t stop with penises. It was the legendary artist Frank Zappa who embraced Cynthia and promoted her efforts. ‘Short handed’ refers to the girlfriend that Cynthia would bring along to help…. Cynthia Albritton, the artist and onetime super groupie more famously known as Cynthia Plaster Caster, who was famous. And, no matter, I’m proud to be included.” Just the tip: Cynthia Plaster Caster and Wayne Kramer. I think it’s one of the funniest of the collection, as do so many others. My finished cast ended up as a small plaster representation, a mere shell of what could have been. I was left to attempt to reach my full manliness alone, and I failed miserably. “Sadly, on the night of my casting, Cynthia was ‘short handed.’ Timing was crucial, and on this night it all fell apart. Wayne Kramer, guitarist of the band MC5 (Motor City Five) recounted his experience to The New York Times: That tended to rub her subjects the wrong way.Īfter various other materials and a lot of ups and downs in the process, she landed on using dental molds for the job. The original homework assignment called for sand and water. In 1977, the band “Kiss” immortalized her in song:Ī true “hands-on” artist, Albritton worked hard to find the right medium for the sculptures. She became known as the “Plaster Caster” of Chicago. Combining her love for art with her passion for music, her collection and notoriety began to rise. She began the process of making molds of male genitalia. In Pink Goldfish fashion, the painfully shy Albritton decided to forsake the normal and embrace the weird. Students were required to make a cast of something that could retain its shape. It began as an assignment for an art class she was taking at the University of Illinois back in the 1960s. To be specific, erect phallic casts of the likes of Jimi Hendrix, Eric Burdon of “The Animals” and Zal Yanovsky of the “Lovin’ Spoonful.” The Chicago native was famous for her avant-garde artwork an expansive collection of plaster molds of private parts of famous musicians. The Hendrix is one of more than 50 phallic casts. One of the world's most famous rock and roll groupies, Cynthia Albritton, has died at age 74 after battling an illness for several years. The artist was Chicago native Cynthia Albritton. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.Her most famous piece of art was called “The Hendrix.” But most people call it the “Penis de Milo.” Spring Premiere Dates For New & Returning Series On Broadcast, Cable & Streaming No information on survivors or memorial plans has been announced.Ģ022 Awards Season Calendar - Dates For The Emmys, Tonys & MoreĪwards Season Red Carpet Photos: Grammys, Oscars, SAG Awards & More She had her first art exhibit in New York in 2000 and then was the subject of a 2001 documentary, Plaster Caster. When Cohen balked, things eventually devolved into a court case, with Albritton ultimately getting back all but three of the casts. After a long hiatus from cast-making, Albritton tried to get them back. “The plaster’s gettin’ harder and my love is perfection/A token of my love for her collection,” he sang - but Albritton said she never casted any member of that band.Īlbritton was born in Chicago, and moved to Los Angeles after befriending Frank Zappa, who supported her craft but declined to participate in the art.Īfter her apartment was burglarized in 1971, the casts were given to Zappa’s business partner, Herb Cohen. Kiss’ Gene Simmons wrote a song called “Plaster Caster” for the band’s 1977 platinum album Love Gun. She later expanded to include male filmmakers in the collection and then female artists’ breasts.Īmong the artists who submitted to the process were Wayne Kramer of the MC5 and Pete Shelley of the Buzzcocks. In 1968, Jimi Hendrix was her first cast.
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