1979, 42”x29”

In 1979, after a year of working in Children's Theatre, Cole created this celebratory tribute to jazz saxophonist Sonny Rollins – just one year before Cole added pastels to his repertoire of techniques. Inspired by the scientific approach of the pointillists, Cole decided to use only primary colors applied as horizontal dashes. "Each dash,” says Cole, “represents an energy that is in the air.” The resulting image of Sonny Rollins playing his horn and effortlessly walking along a high wire amidst balloons is one of pure joy as well as high energy.

This graphic reproduction is printed on acid-free semi-gloss paper.