Willie Cole’s Beauties & Bottles

Artist Willie Cole calls himself a “perceptual engineer.” He mines the visual layers of irons, ironing boards, gas hoses, high-heeled shoes, and even plastic water bottles. State of the Arts goes on location to Willie Cole’s studio, and to an exhibit of his “Beauties” prints at the Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study at Harvard University, where we meet curator and Harvard professor of art Jennifer L. Roberts, and Highpoint Center for Printmaking artistic director and master printer Cole Rogers, who collaborated with Willie on the “Beauties.” The last location is the Pingry School in New Jersey, where Willie Cole worked with the community to create a 25-foot tall “Giant” out of water bottles.

Producer, Susan Wallner; Narrator, Dan Gordon; Camera, Joe Conlon and Daniel Jacobs; Grip, Jordy Brazo.

Additional video courtesy of the Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study at Harvard University. Images courtesy of Alexander and Bonin, New York with photos by Orcutt & Van De Putten, Jason Mandella, Joerg Lohse, and Christina Price Washington. Additional photos courtesy of Highpoint Editions, AFineLyne, Raleigh Fine Art Consulting & Installation Services, and Jennifer L. Roberts.