Warhol superstar Penny Arcade is fronting a fundraising campaign to help photographer Laura Rubin, famous for her photos of 1960s New York.
Photographer Laura Rubin captured the sixties counterculture centred around Warhol’s factory, with photos of Holly Woodlawn, Candy Darling, Andrea ‘Whips’ Feldman and teenage Penny Arcade.
New York based performer Arcade is now offering supporters the chance to buy museum quality prints of the famous photos to help Rubin, who is now in ill health and living in Mexico.
She says: “Six years ago Laura Rubin, a photographer in her 70s contacted me at a desperate time in her life.
“I had just raised $60,000 for Warhol star Holly Woodlawn, whose friends had contacted me when Holly hit rock bottom and needed rescue.”
(Pic: Penny Arcade in the 1960s, by Laura Rubin)
Arcade, who has always seen herself as a community activist and advocate alongside her work as a performer, launched a GoFundMe which allowed supporters to buy prints in order to help pay medical and living expenses for Rubin, who has lupus and immune deficiency problems.
Prints available for $250 (£192), including international postage, include Candy Darling, Holly Woodlawn, Mario Montez, Francis Francine, Andrea “Whips” Feldman, Geraldine Smith, Tony Conrad and Beverly Grant and Penny Arcade.
Arcade says: “Long before many photographers brought dignity and yes, glamour to queer and transsexual artists, Laura facilitated their expression through her photography. She allowed them to express to the world who they knew themselves to be.”
Warhol Superstar Candy Darling, by Laura Rubin
Before she became ill Rubin donated her negatives to the Andy Warhol Museum in Pittsburgh as a permanent gift, however with the help of the museum she has given permission to print copies to raise money from supporters.
You can see all the prints available to buy here:
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/10VsRVaWA8Srl_KHjgLq8kriMHQUjyyE1
Laura also welcomes smaller donations from people who wish to show their support. Not everyone can afford a print – but small gifts of money can help make her life easier and are also appreciated.
The GoFundMe fundraiser is here:
