Artist Willie Cole to Appear at Hudson County Community College Foundation’s ‘Artist Talk’ Series
September 21, 2012
Jersey City, NJ – Willie Cole, the artist renowned for transforming everyday objects into works of art, will be the featured guest at the next segment of Hudson County Community College Foundation’s “Artist Talk” series. The event is scheduled for Friday, September 28, 2012 at 1:30 p.m. in the Follett Room of the College’s Culinary Arts Institute/Conference Center, 161 Newkirk Street in Jersey City (just two blocks from the Journal Square PATH Station). There is no charge for admission and light refreshments will be served at the event.
Born and raised in Newark, Mr. Cole studied at the Boston University School of Fine Arts, earned his Bachelor of Fine Arts from the School of Visual Arts in New York City, and pursued post-graduate studies at the Art Students League of New York. He has been artist-in-residence at Pilchuck School (Seattle, WA), The Contemporary in Baltimore (MD), Capp Street Project (San Francisco, CA), and The Studio Museum (Harlem, NY).
Mr. Cole is, perhaps, best known for assembling and transforming everyday objects — such as steam irons, ironing boards, high-heeled shoes, hair dryers, wood matches, bicycle parts, discarded hardware and lawn jockeys — into imaginative works of art. He often builds meaning into his works through the repeated use of a single object in multiples. His work appears in numerous private and public collections and museums, including the Art Gallery of Toronto (Canada), Baltimore Museum of Art, Dallas Museum of Art, Detroit Institute of Arts, Metropolitan Museum of Art, Museum of Modern Art, National Gallery of Art (Washington, D.C.), and Whitney Museum of American Art (New York City). The Hudson County Community College Foundation acquired Mr. Cole’s “Man, Spirit, Mask” for the College’s permanent collection.
The Hudson County Community College Foundation Art Collection was established six years ago to coincide with the initiation of the College’s Fine Arts studies program. The Collection is intended to enrich the lives of the community and to provide a point of reference and inspiration for Fine Arts Students. The HCCC Foundation Art Collection has since grown to its present stature thanks to the generosity of its many donors. Since its inception, several pieces have been directly donated by individuals, estates, corporations and other organizations. Monetary donations for art purchases are maximized by matching funds, and donations are given not only for acquiring works of art, but also for special events, and items in kind, such as art books for the College library.
Additional information on Mr. Cole’s appearance and reservations may be obtained by contacting Dr. Andrea Siegel at (201) 360-4007 or by emailing asiegelFREEHUDSONCOUNTYCOMMUNITYCOLLEGE.