Kevin Concannon

Willie Cole Bottle Stacks, 2018 Artist Willie Cole spent Sustainability Week 2018 in residence with faculty and students at Virginia Tech’s College of Architecture and Urban Studies, developing the Bottle Stacks project in front of the Media Building on Draper Road. Known since the 1990s for his innovative work with discarded steam irons, bicycle parts, blow dryers and shoes, Cole began working with recycled water bottles more recently. Skilled at creating beautiful artworks with abandoned objects and creating beauty from the detritus of contemporary civilization, he has long maintained a sustainable art practice. Cole has consistently imbued his work with spiritual content as well, noting in this case that “discarded bottles contain discarded spirits, and they accumulate and reincarnate as light!” Evoking the Haystacks of Claude Monet, light reflecting through the bottles at different times of day, suggest the shifting light of Impressionist painting. The project, sponsored by the College, Virginia Tech Facilities, the Black Cultural Center and ICAT remains on view throughout the Fall 2018 semester.

Moss Arts Center, April 26-June 6, 2018. Photos by Pippi Miller for the Moss.

Tenth anniversary show at Akron, featuring pieces that had been added along the tour, but not in the original show.

Armory Gallery, Virginia Tech, October 18-November 5, 2016. Photos by DongSoo Choi.

September 24-October 11, 2014

eighth venue

Armory Art Gallery, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, October 25-November 22, 2013. Photos by DongSoo Choi.

Armory Art Gallery (September 1- - October 1, 2013) featuring My Mommy is Beautiful and Cut Piece.

seventh venue Photos by Jared Ladia for the Taubman Museum of Art

sixth venue

fifth venue

fourth venue

at the McDonough Museum of Art, Youngstown, Ohio, 2008

third venue

second venue

Yoko Ono Imagine Peace featuring John & Yoko's Year of Peace, opening venue.

at The University of Akron