David Cole

David is fascinated by mechanical objects and the material culture of industry and manufacturing from the era of analogue devices. His studio in Oakland, CA is a repository of specialized machine tools, collected objects and obscure technical information that he uses to investigate the nature of metals and the forms that they can take when one is sensitive to their nature and the mark of the tool. With an interest in mathematics, engineering, chemistry and history, his work ranges in size from small jewelry to large-scale public art.

Recent projects have included architectural details for Stanford University, a three-story kinetic sculpture for a building's atrium in Princeton, NJ, the principal photography for a forthcoming monograph on the artist Marie Zimmermann and a line of fine jewelry that is sold in stores and galleries. In the spring of 2011, he and another professor organized and installed the work of 30 CCA students at the American Craft Council's premier show in Baltimore, MD.