I’d sing a song of praise to Willie Cole’s exhibition No Strings if I knew how to sing or play any kind of instrument. What Cole did for this exhibition is transform blemished musical instruments — acoustic guitars, saxophones, pianos — into astounding sculptures depicting human and nonhuman forms. And those sculptures had stories to tell and songs to sing if one cared to mute all other noises and listen. Cole, who calls himself a “perceptual engineer,” is known for his work with found material, from plastic water bottles to shoes. In this show, found material finds a soul.
—Hakim Bishara
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