Kevin Cole
Dreams Over Memories II
Offset Lithograph; Mixed media
Variation
Edition: Variation
Published by Brandywine Workshop and Archives, Philadelphia.
From the Artist
When I turned 18 years old, my grandfather stressed the importance of voting by taking me to a tree where he was told that African Americans were lynched by their neckties on their way to vote. This experience left a profound impression in my mind.
Since 1992, my work has evolved from the use of the necktie as an icon, motif and symbol of power. I have emphasized the relationship between color and music, particularly jazz, blues, rap, and gospel music because of its strong presence in the African American community. The works incorporate patterns and textures from traditional African dolls such as the Kente and Adinkra cloths, cloths that speak to human conditions and behaviors.
My recent series of prints called “Dreams over Memories,”are monotype wall relief. Throughout all of my work, I continue to investigate the existence of polyrhythmic space and overlapping planes, with raw emotional power of color and texture. There are various symbols from the Adinkra cloth that speak about faith, strength, wisdom, family unity, and omnipotencein each piece.
—From Brandywine Workshop and Archives records
