Syracuse's Cole Enters Piece In Red Bull Art Competition
Posted
Staff Report-
LOS ANGELES, Calif. - A Syracuse barber is competing in the Red Bull Art of Can competition.
The Red Bull Art of Can is a national art competition and exhibition that has been traveling the world since 1997.
Dennis Cole, 39, Syracuse, created a piece he calls "Red Bull High Energy Haircut," made out of recycled Red Bull cans. His piece was selected among hundreds of submissions to be part of the Chicago exhibit Nov. 9-18. Cole's piece rotates like a real barber pole.
Cole, along with 38 other finalists, will compete with their pieces in front of a panel of gallery gurus.
The Nov. 9 opening night for Art of Can in Chicago holds special significance for Dennis Cole.
"That's my 40th birthday!" he said "I thought how great it would be to do something like this for my 40th."
Over the years, Cole has evolved in his interests and pursuits. The Hoosier has been a welder for almost two decades, but in 2005 he graduated from beauty school; he now is a barber as well as a tungsten inert gas welder.
"Being a barber is much like welding," he said. "You have to use both hands at the same time as you design, and you have to be thinking ahead during the creating process."
He said, "Because of these two art mediums, I have been able to be a part of many people's lives: either designing an iron piece for someone to enjoy in their art collection, or helping someone's self-esteem with an awesome haircut!"
Cole's entry - a rotating aluminum barber pole that incorporates 100 cans - reflects his interests, and because he teaches wrought-iron classes at the Creative Fish Gallery and Artistic Workshop in Syracuse, he said, "Who knows? Maybe I'll teach 'How to Make Art of Can Projects' next year."
Cole's art, along with the art of his competition, will be on display at the Starr Gallery at the River East Art Center. The Creative Fish Gallery will host a reception for Cole from 5 to 8 p.m. Oct. 26.
The Red Bull Art of Can competition challenged artists to construct pieces created with or inspired by Red Bull Energy Drink cans. Innovative artists - professional and amateur - submitted their designs for consideration in the exhibit, and 39 were ultimately selected to be a part of the Chicago Collection.
The featured artists are creative types of all ages and occupations - from engineers to high school students and fashion designers to classically trained artists.
With this much talent on hand, a distinguished judging panel was brought in to help sort through the array of submissions and determine which pieces earned a coveted pedestal in the exhibition. Their decision was based on the overall creativity, execution and construction of each piece.
The judges also award special honors to the top three artists/pieces, including the grand prize all-expenses-paid trip to Art Basel, the world's leading modern art exhibit in Switzerland. Second place receives tickets for two to Art Basel Miami, while third place takes home a specially customized local art experience. These three winners will be announced during the private opening Nov. 7.
The public also will have a chance to designate a "People's Choice Award" by casting their votes at the exhibit and online at www.redbullartofcan.com
The Starr Gallery at the River East Art Center is at 435 E. Illinois St., Chicago, and the free public exhibit runs Nov. 9-18.
For more information, including a preview of the art or to vote online for "People's Choice Award," visit www.redbullartofcan.com
