Anxious Objects: Willie Cole's Favorite Brands

This first survey of Willie Cole's work from 1988 to the present includes mixed-media sculptures made from salvaged steam irons, blow dryers, ironing boards, high-heeled shoes, old windows, lawn jockeys, and bicycle parts; paintings and drawings made of iron scorch marks; and prints. Cole's consumer and domestic objects, transformed into powerful cultural and spiritual evocations referencing African, global cultures, and personal identity, assuming the appearance of objects from another time, culture or place. Patterson Sims, Director of the Museum, organized the exhibition that will travel to five other museums.

Exhibition Itinerary:

Nebraska: Sheldon Memorial Art Museum, Lincoln
September 16,  2006 - December 16, 2006

New York: Memorial Art Gallery, Rochester
January 20 - March 18, 2007

Alabama: Birmingham Museum of Art, Birmingham
March 31 – May 27, 2007

Washington: Frye Art Museum, Seattle
June 15 - September 2, 2007

California: Iris & B. Gerald Cantor Center, Stanford University, Palo Alto  
September 26, 2007 - January 7, 2008

^{Anxious Objects: Willie Cole's Favorite Brands is organized by the Montclair Art Museum. The exhibition is supported by generous grants from the State of New Jersey, Department of Treasury; Agnes Gund and Daniel Shapiro; the Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts; Altria Group, Inc.; Ruth and William True; Merrill Lynch; the Cowles Charitable Trust; by a Projects Serving Artists grant from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts/Department of State, a Partner Agency of the National Endowment for the Arts; by funds from the Judith Targan Endowment Fund for Museum Publications; and by the following Exhibition Angels: Anonymous, Patricia Bell, Bobbi Brown and Steven Plofker, Suzanne and Jeffrey Citron, Pat and Mort David, Patti and Jimmy Elliott, Bobbie and Bob Constable, Gregg Seibert, Lois and David Stith, Paula A. Tuffin and Reginald J. Hollinger, Denise and Ira Wagner, Carol and Harlan Waksal, Margo and Frank Walter, and Joan and Donald Zief. Media sponsorship is provided by Jazz 88 WBGO.}