Frye Art Museum

Sarah and I visited the Frye Art Museum today. Lately I've been feeling like I've been making too much art without seeing any art. Since there was an exhibition of works by Willie Cole I wanted to see, we went.
I first saw Willie Cole's work at the MOMA in NY in 1998. The first work of his I saw was his iron prints. He takes irons (yes, ironing clothes irons) and does scorch prints with them. They are amazing. They had a few of those works at the Frye but they also had some of his sculpture. While the sculpture didn't thrill me like the iron prints (I am a printmaker at heart) I did appreciate them. What Cole has done is take ordinary objects and "He transforms throwaway and time-textured objects—such as irons, ironing boards, blow dryers, high-heeled shoes, lawn jockeys, bicycle parts, and other discarded domestic appliances and hardware—into powerful and iconic artworks, granting them new vitality and metaphorical meaning."* The metaphors are strong and most have to do with African art and statements on racism and the black experience. I really love the show and will probably go back.
Another artist on exhibit there is David C. Kane. His art grew on me as I looked at it. I love his flying saucer imagery. I think I will have to go back and look at his stuff again.
This Thursday I think Sarah and I are going to take advantage of the Artwalk downtown and the free admission to the Seattle Art Museum. I am making a lot of art and it's drying up my creative well. It's time to fill it up again.

Image: Branded Irons by Willie Cole, 2000. 4 scorched plywood panels, 84 x 84 in.Courtesy Alexander and Bonin, NY.