The exhibit, Willie Cole: On Site,will be on display from April 8 through July 2. As artist-in-residence, Cole will meet with Penn graduate students in Fine Arts.
Cole will present an artist talk at 5:30 pm on Friday, April 7, at the Arthur Ross Gallery, followed by an opening reception.
Willie Cole: On Site features works that Cole created from 2006-2016 that focused on three main materials: found wood, used shoes, and recycled water bottles. A unique feature in the exhibit will be a 20-foot chandelier made of recycled water bottles that was created by the artist with students at the University of Maryland.
Willie Cole is known for transforming ordinary objects, such as bicycle parts, irons, and shoes into works of art, alluding to the African American experience inspired by West African religion. Known for his strong use of imagery, one of Cole’s most prominent symbols, the steam iron, represents subjects ranging from the domestic role of women of color to the Yoruba god of iron and war, Ogun.
“Willie Cole is one of the most creative and original artists working today,” says Curlee R. Holton, Executive Director of the David Driskell Center at the University of Maryland. “His iconic archetypal images penetrate our consciousness to connect to a primal source in each of us. He is masterful in how he can take a common object like well-worn shoes and resurrect from them a new spirit and meaning.”
Visitors to Willie Cole: On Siteare asked to bring a pair of gently used shoes to contribute to the gallery's partner in the exhibit, Shoe Box Recycling. The gallery's goal is to offer an opportunity to “share soles” with others in need and to connect with communities and cultures around the world.
Willie Cole: On Site is organized by the David C. Driskell Center for the Study of the Visual Arts and Culture of African Americans and the African Diaspora at the University of Maryland, College Park. The exhibition is curated by Holton and Dorit Yaron, Driskell Center deputy director. It is made possible by support from the Maryland Arts Council.
At the Arthur Ross Gallery, Willie Cole: On Site is supported by Matthew B. and Janet Ries Stern and the Ries Family, who also support the partnership with Shoe Box Recycling. Additional support is provided by the Penn Provost’s Interdisciplinary Arts Grant, the Philadelphia Cultural Fund, and the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts.
Willie Cole: On Site related programs
Friday, April 7, 5:30 p.m.: Artist Talk by Willie Cole
Wednesday, April 12, 2:00 p.m.: Art Reset, a conversation with Rebecca Tennenbaum about Willie Cole: On Site
Wednesday, May 3, 12:00 p.m.: 12 @ 12: A Tasty Art Nugget in 12 Minutes Flat!
Wednesday, May 31, 5:30 to 7:00 p.m.: The Group Motion Workshop and Ron Kravitz, an evening of creative expression through dance/ movement, accompanied by live music. Lead by Manfred Fischbeck, Brigitta Herrmann and Ron Kravitz
Wednesday, June 7, 12:00 p.m.: 12 @ 12: A Tasty Art Nugget in 12 Minutes Flat!
The Arthur Ross Gallery is located at 220 South 34th Street, Philadelphia (in the Fisher Fine Arts Library Building), and is free and open to the public.
On the move: Water quality and antimicrobial resistance testing goes mobile
Penn researchers have developed a mobile field laboratory allowing them to test water quality and track antimicrobial resistance in and around San Cristóbal in the Galápagos.
Penn researchers Vanessa and Alexis North are studying one of the largest collections of Egyptian blue objects ever found in the ancient Near East, shedding new light on how the world’s first synthetic pigment may have traveled far beyond Egypt.
A new role for dental providers? Rethinking where vaccines are given
Vaccinations have traditionally been administered in primary care settings or pharmacies. However, for about a decade, some states have authorized dentists to administer vaccines, and many others did so during the COVID-19 pandemic. The effectiveness of this approach has led some countries and states to expand or consider expanding the role of dental providers in delivering routine vaccines, including those against COVID-19 and the human papillomavirus (HPV), and in providing vaccine education.
Penn student develops a way for computer chips to run more efficiently
Fluid Silicon, a platform from President’s Sustainability Prize winner Nhlanhla Mavuso, allows computer chips to continuously monitor their health and self-tune as their characteristics change. The technology has the potential to reduce energy usage in data centers and improve reliability in mission-critical applications.
