Three Generations 2013
hand-turned hardwood with sterling silver
2 x 7 x 2.5, 1.75 x 7 x 2.5, 2.5 x 6.5 x 3 inches Stand Dimensions: 2.75 x 11.25 x 17.5
Three Generations is a triptych of baby-rattle and hand-grenade hybrids. Each is turned hardwood with sterling silver detail formed after grenades used by the US Army in WWII, Vietnam, and the current ongoing wars respectively (the baby boom, the baby boomers, and the baby boomers kids). Cole also looked at contemporaneous architecture to inspire elements of each form. For example, the stem of the center piece is after the New York State pavilion at the 1964 World’s Fair in Queens. The triptych is an unsettling and cross-bred fetishization of seemingly disparate subjects: child-rearing and war. For Cole, these are two inevitable facets of the human condition. And the links between are fascinating and honest points to examine in our own history. From his kevlar baby clothing, to his baby bottle grenade hybrid, to his machine gun nest sculpture, Cole has been grappling with this juncture repeatedly in his practice. Three Generations initially appears harm- less and precious nestled on linen cushions. Each of the three beautifully crafted objects are extremely desirable and dif- ficult to not instinctively want to handle. And when picked up, their charming functionality temporarily distracts from their more challenging suggestions.
- Created: 2013