Visual artist Willie Cole uses ordinary household objects and found items to challenge perception.
"The transformation is more about a relaxation of what you perceive to be your 'know-it-all state' so that you can let things talk to you, whether it be shape, form or color," he said. "And to that, we can apply our life lessons, so that gives us psychological edge that transforms it into another meaning or another experience."
Newsy's Sadé Carpenter asked Cole about his work with one domestic item in particular: the steam iron. He explained its connection to his black heritage, including ties to his immediate family and deeper roots in slavery.
