Created by
Cole, Kevin E., American, born 1960
Date
2008
Medium
mixed media on wood
Dimensions
H x W: 56 3/4 x 66 1/2 x 10 1/2 in. (144.1 x 168.9 x 26.7 cm)
Storage: 55.9 x 170.2 x 200.7 cm, 136.1 kg (22 x 67 x 79 in., 300 lb.)
Caption
When artist Keven Cole was 18, his grandfather showed him a tree in his Tarry, Arkansas, neighborhood from which African American men were routinely lynched for attempting to vote. His grandfather added that when these men were killed, their neckties would be wrapped around the hanging noose. The ties were a warning to other black men that African Americans should not pretend to the status or privileges of white people by exercising their rights as citizens or reaching above their prescribed underclass status.
Cole’s chilling memory of this event inspired him to incorporate the abstracted form of the necktie in his work. By doing so, he seeks to transform this gruesome legacy into his contemporary vision of the inner strength, resiliency, and self-determination of African American men.
Description
Three dimensional sculpture of necktie shapes painted, etched, bent and curled in multiple directions. The various shapes are painted with juxtaposing bold colors and patterns such as stripes, circles, splashes and geometric shapes. Multiple layers of acrylic paint are used to add texture to the geometric designs. The piece is made using scattered debris left by Hurricane Katrina.
Portfolio/Series
Fragment of Frozen Sound Series
Classification
Visual Arts
Type
sculpture
Topic
Art
Civil rights
Race discrimination
Violence
Credit Line
Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of Greg and Yolanda Head
Object number
2009.12
Restrictions & Rights
© Kevin Cole
Permission required for use. Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.
GUID
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/fd557c34d5a-3965-4030-9db0-a8de35ec08b1

Cataloging is an ongoing process and we may update this record as we conduct additional research and review. If you have more information about this object, please contact us at NMAAHCDigiTeam@si.edu

Share this page