Polaroid cameras may have been discontinued, but their pictures still hold a legacy. The Andy Warhol Photographic Legacy program was started by The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts in 2007. The program, which donated 28,500 of Warhol’s Polaroids to various educational institutions, was designed, in the foundation’s own words, “to provide even greater access to Warhol’s work and process, and to enable a wide range of individuals from communities and institutions across the country to view and study this important body of work.”  Considering the tendency of Polaroid pictures to fade over time, I tend to think that the Foundation’s benevolence may have more to do with the short life-span of these photos. At any rate, it is a wonderful program for art enthusiasts at Penn State, as the Palmer Museum of Art was selected as one of the recipients of the photos.

Having been to the exhibit, everyone should check these photos out. Frankly, an appreciation of art is not necessary to be entertained by ghostly images of Mother Goose and Wayne Gretsky. You get an intimate sense of the figures, captured in one moment in time. There’s a common theme in every photo: you can sense Warhol behind the lens in each one. Get your fill now while you can. The pictures might not last much longer than the cameras that took them.

Check out The Andy Warhol Foundation here and check out the exhibit at the Palmer, open Tuesday through Saturday, 10:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.