Fred Cole likes to create three dimensional images from existing materials. His sculptures are being exhibited through the month of April in the Main Hall Display Case at the Highland Park Public Library in New Jersey.
“The images in this display use materials such as plastic, wood, metal, springs, electrical components, motor covers, fan blades, gas lines, and plastic reflectors,” Cole said. “They help me convey ideas that hopefully make the viewer see that what’s new is not always best, and that in a “throw-away and buy culture” such as ours existing materials never go out of style or potential use.”
According to the Highland Park artist, the re-purposing of material to use in artistic expression is not a new art form. Famous artists such as Picasso and Duchamp did this early in the 20th century.
“However, to develop themes that are often driven by the material, but not limited to it, continues to reveal new forms of expression to me on a consistent basis. At other times the materials I use help me to convey an existing idea into imagery that I enjoy,” Cole said.
