In the studio with Mel Edwards
Melvin “Mel” Edwards is a contemporary artist, teacher, and abstract steel metal sculptor living and working in New York and Dakar, Senegal. As a pioneer of contemporary African-American art, Edwards is celebrated for his sculptures and three-dimensional installations made from barbed wire, welded steel, chain, and other machinery parts. His work is categorized by his ability to create a visual language of modern sculpture while engaging with the history of abstraction. READ MORE
At Raven Editions, we have worked with Mel Edwards many times over the years, both in-studio and offsite. We have editioned various prints of his work using techniques involving serigraphs, etchings, and original mixed media practices. Our latest collaboration with the artist, in February 2023, included experiments with spray paint and found objects including barbed wire, locks, metal chains, and more.
Printmaker, Coty West, worked hands-on with Edwards on the project. Here’s what she had to say about the experience…
“Part of my job was to offer Mel various metal objects and a mix of media that he can choose to work with. I created tables with displays of inks, spray paint, chains, barbed wire, rulers, various metal pieces, and any circular objects that I could find around the print studio. Edwards sits quietly with the objects.
© Raven Editions, 2023
Then, I watch Mel take a deep breath and begin. He grabbed at the metal pieces first. Laying down the chain in an intricate way, letting the metal decide where it wanted to rest. Edwards then took the spray paint and let it spit and spray across the paper, to create a beautiful silhouette underneath. In under an hour and a half, before we knew it, Mel had created 10 to 15 beautiful works.
Watching his process is very prolific, his use of light stands out to me the most. He uses this light technique to highlight the metal objects and create dramatic imagery. He turned the white pieces of paper into a true Mel Edwards original. There is a sense of play in his process that is only overshadowed by the deep meaning of his work. It is very inspiring, and an honor to assist him during his visits at Raven Editions.”
In the same year, we worked on two other projects with Edwards, an artist-in-residence project with the Historical Society of Pennsylvania (HSP), and a publication with the David Driskell Center.
Monumental
This project commemorated and coincided with the fabrication of a monument Edwards created to be installed in front of the David C. Driskell Center. The sculpture was commissioned by the David C. Driskell Center as part of a multi-year Mellon Foundation-funded project and was erected in front of the main entrance of the Center in a garden named after the late artist David C. Driskell. The 20-ft sculpture, entitled David’s Dream was unveiled in April of 2024.
Monumental by Melvin Edwards is a serigraph print on 30 x 22 inch Rives BKF paper, with metallic ink. It was printed at Ironlung Editions in Philadelphia, Pa., by master printer Jase Clark in January 2023. The print is an edition of 50 with each one hand numbered and signed by Melvin Edwards.
READ MORE:
New print edition by Melvin Edwards to coincide with fabrication of monument, David C. Driskell Center, Feb 2023
Sculpture Celebrating David Driskell Unveiled, By Maggie Haslam for Maryland Today, Apr 05, 2024
Vision and Purpose I - IV
Drawing inspiration from the Historical Society of Pennsylvania’s (HSP) collections, particularly materials related to Father Divine (1877-1965), a religious leader and founder of the International Peace Mission, Edwards created a series of serigraph prints entitled Vision and Purpose I - IV. In collaboration with our studio, we produced a series of 60 prints over four editions, each with different coloring, one in black and white and one in sepia.
“This type of collaboration with an institution such as HSP is important because the historical documents record the American experience and its profound narratives of hope, freedom, and possibilities,” said Curlee Raven Holton, Director of Raven Fine Art Editions. “These experiences and possibilities are given new meaning and relevance in today’s world by the talent and unique voice of these participating artists.”
edition Size: 15 of each; Medium: Serigraph/Digital; Size: 22x30 in
READ MORE:
Resident Artist Mel Edwards with the Historical Society of Pennsylvania, Raven Editions, Sept 26, 2023
“A chance to have Mel Edwards in the print shop is a true honor. Not only do we get to witness him creating these works in person, but we also get to witness his storytelling and see the depth of who he is as an artist. Mel has an aura about him that attracts everyone around him like a moth to a light. Hearing Mel and Curlee catch up on their various projects while weaving in stories of the past is amazing to be around. They reflect on what drives the artmaking process and the true meaning behind why they create.” - Coty West, Printmaker
Installation view, Fridericianum, Friedrichsplatz, Kassel, Germany,
SEE NOW:
SOME BRIGHT MORNING
31 August 2024 - 12 January 2025, Friedrichsplatz, Kassel, Germany
Melvin Edwards' solo show, SOME BRIGHT MORNING, at the Fridericianum is the first major presentation of the artist’s work in Europe.
“Edwards' works on paper provide an interesting counterpoint to the sculptural practice for which the artist is most well-known. Rendered in ink and watercolour on paper, the subject of these works is the silhouette of barbed wire. The use of industrial materials such as wire and chains are used to evoke complex and menacing narratives of entrapment and labour, while referencing the geometric language of his Minimalist peers.” READ MORE
Interested in acquiring some of these works from Mel Edwards, email us directly to inquire!