Man Spirit Mask

Willie Cole’s choice of irons and related imagery and their consistent use and exploration are the result of a deep search for meaning encompassing memory and history, African aesthetics and symbols. Irons convey issues of domestic work, especially women’s work and the household world. The use of irons is also a reference to Cole’s family history: his great-grandmother and grandmother were domestics. This is a reference to the role of many women of color in American society.