Conversation Peace (Hopes and Dreams)
Kevin Cole
1995
Painted plywood
Influenced by the stories his grandfather told him about how African Americans were lynched by their neckties on their way to vote, Atlanta artist Kevin E. Cole created a four-part installation entitled, “Conversation Peace.” Since 1992, the artist has made use of the necktie as an icon, motif, and symbol of power, emphasizing a relationship between music and color. Kevin incorporates patterns and textures of traditional African clothes, which speak to human conditions and behaviors. The implied vigor and motion expressed in his artwork parallel the physical changes and growth taking place in the communities for which the artwork was originally created: East Atlanta and Grant and Ormewood Parks. Cole’s works can be found in over 500 public, corporate, and private collections.
Studioplex
659 Auburn Ave. NE
Atlanta, GA 30312