Rokenrol and Sex: Hendrix’s Early Influence on Cynthia Albritton’s Sculptures
- In 1968, phenomenal American guitarist and singer Jimi Hendrix came to Chicago.
- "With my friends, we drove in a car behind Jimi's limousine after the first of two performances he had at the Chicago Civic Opera House.
- When they turned to Hendrix directly with their idea, he replied: "Yes, I heard about you from someone from the universe. Come up to my room." and there,...
In 1968, phenomenal American guitarist and singer Jimi Hendrix came to Chicago. Albritton was at the time ready to find the first real rock star, according to whose nature she would create a plaster cast as a work of art. She had only tried it with a few rock “non-celebrities” so far.
“With my friends, we drove in a car behind Jimi’s limousine after the first of two performances he had at the Chicago Civic Opera House. We arrived behind her at the Conrad Hilton hotel and jumped out. We stood there, looking at Jimi and his band The Experience, and saying to ourselves: We are here because we want to make a plaster cast.”
When they turned to Hendrix directly with their idea, he replied: “Yes, I heard about you from someone from the universe. Come up to my room.” and there, the casting merrily took place.
Cynthia Albritton,also known as Cynthia Plaster Caster,then built a unique career by making plaster casts of the penises of rock stars. She cast not only a copy of Jimi Hendrix’s nature, but also Jon Langford of The Mekons, Eric Burdon of The Animals, Wayne Kramer of MC5, pete Shelley of Buzzcocks, or Jello Biafra of Dead Kennedys.
Cynthia Albritton, the “Plaster Caster,” and Her Unique Artistic Role
Table of Contents
Cynthia Albritton, known professionally as Cynthia Plaster Caster, gained notoriety for creating plaster casts of the genitalia of prominent rock musicians, beginning with Jimi Hendrix in 1968. Her work became a unique intersection of art, rock and roll, and sexual liberation.
Early Career and the Hendrix Cast
Albritton began her artistic pursuits while studying at school, initially tasked with creating a cast of a solid object. She chose to cast an erect penis, sparking a fascination that would define her career. The pivotal moment came in February 1968 when Jimi Hendrix agreed to be her first rock star subject. According to her friend Michael Workman, this act transformed Albritton into a Chicago icon, dubbed “the girl who cast Jimi Hendrix’s penis.”
Expanding Her Portfolio and Artistic Recognition
Following her success with Hendrix, Albritton continued to create casts of musicians including Jon Langford of The Mekons, Eric Burdon of The Animals, Wayne Kramer of MC5, Pete Shelley of Buzzcocks, and Jello Biafra of Dead Kennedys. Frank Zappa, recognizing the humor and creativity in her work, became her patron and relocated her to Los Angeles in the early 1970s. Workman noted that Albritton possessed a keen eye for identifying potential rock stars, stating, “If they were interested in you as a model, it meant you had rock star potential. She had a nose for it.”
Legal Battles and Public Exhibitions
In 1971, after a burglary, Albritton entrusted her completed casts to Herb Cohen. She attempted to organize an exhibition of her work but faced resistance from gallery owners. In 1993, she filed a lawsuit against Cohen for his refusal to return the casts, ultimately winning the case and gaining control of her artwork. This allowed her to finally present her work publicly, with her first exhibition taking place in New York City in 2000.That same year, she began creating casts of women’s breasts, having created over seventy casts of penises by 2014.
Legacy and Artistic Significance
Albritton’s work captured a spirit of musical passion, sexual revolution, and rock and roll authenticity. She passed away in April 2022,leaving behind a controversial yet critically important body of work. Her art was even acknowledged by the band Kiss, who paid tribute to her with the song “plaster caster” in 1977, despite never participating in the casting process themselves. An example of her work, the cast of Jimi Hendrix, is currently displayed in a museum in Reykjavik, Iceland.
Cynthia Albritton: The Artist Behind the rock Star Plasters
Cynthia Albritton, also known as Cynthia Plaster Caster, gained notoriety for creating plaster casts of the genitalia of prominent rock musicians, beginning with Jimi Hendrix in 1968.
Albritton’s career began as an art student in Chicago, where she experimented with plaster casting as a medium. She initially conceived of creating casts as sculptural works, and her early subjects were not limited to musicians. However, her work took a unique turn when she sought to immortalize rock stars in plaster, believing she had a knack for identifying future icons.
In February 1968, Albritton successfully convinced Jimi Hendrix to allow her to create a cast of his anatomy, marking a pivotal moment in her career and solidifying her reputation. According to her friend Michael Workman, this act transformed her into a Chicago icon, known as ”the girl who cast Jimi hendrix’s penis.”
Expanding Her Artistic circle
Albritton didn’t stop with Hendrix; she went on to cast the likenesses of numerous other musicians, including Jon Langford of The Mekons, Erik Burdon of The Animals, Wayne Kramer of MC5, Pete Shelley of Buzzcocks, and Jello Biafra of Dead Kennedys.
langford recounted a more protracted process, stating it took three or four years before he agreed to participate, describing the experience as more curious than erotic. Their collaboration ultimately blossomed into a decades-long friendship, lasting until Albritton’s death in April 2022.
Frank Zappa’s Patronage and Later Years
Frank Zappa, the American musician, recognized the humor and creativity in Albritton’s work and became her patron in the early 1970s, relocating her to Los Angeles.
after a burglary in 1971,Albritton entrusted her existing casts to Herb Cohen,hoping to organize an exhibition. Despite initial setbacks in securing gallery portrayal, she eventually regained possession of her work in 1993 after a legal dispute with Cohen, allowing her to finally showcase her art publicly.
Albritton held her first exhibition in New York City in 2000, and subsequently began creating casts of women’s breasts. By 2014, she had created over seventy casts of penises, alongside her breast casts, including one of Chicago artist Jan Terri, which was her final piece.
workman emphasized the depth of Albritton’s artistry, stating, “There was a deep love of music encoded in her art, the sexual revolution that was part of rock and roll. It was authentic.”
Albritton’s work also received a tribute in 1977 when the American rock band Kiss released a song titled “Plaster Caster,” though the band members themselves never participated in the casting process.