Saris and Soup Cans

National Post, 4 July 2009

Written by Amoryn Engel

Earlier this spring, art curator Marla Wasser and her husband, Larry, hosted an avant-garde art brunch at their home. The purpose of the brunch was to draw attention to a special exhibit, curated by Marla herself, at the Children’s Museum of Waterloo Region. After a wonderful morning spent sipping mimosas and touring the Wasser’s private art collection, the group boarded a luxury bus and headed for Waterloo where they were treated to an exhibit featuring 60 of Andy Warhol’s most iconic works — everything from Campbell’s soup cans to Mick to Mao to Marilyn. Alongside the Warhols hung works by contemporary artists, all directly inspired by the great maestro of pop art. This portion of the exhibit, called The Art, Inspiration and Appropriation of Andy Warhol, represents “a completely original collection of works that will serve to demonstrate how Warhol’s impact continues to resonate in art and pop culture today,” said the museum’s CEO, David Marskell.

The colourful crowd included Canadian art aficionado Popsy Johnstone, Honey and Barry Sherman, chairman and CEO, Apotex Inc., Ian Delaney, chairman and CEO, Sherritt International, and his wife, Kiki Delaney, president, C.A. Delaney Capital, Susan Harris and David Kassie, chairman and CEO, Genuity Capital Markets, Dr. Paul Marks and Dr. Shawna Granovsky, Sue and Perry Dellelce, partner, Wildeboer Dellelce LLP, Linda and Kevin O’Leary, O’Leary Funds, and Smidar and EdWaitzer, senior partner, Stikeman Elliot LLP.

Weekend Post

amoryne@nationalpost.com