Artists in Conversation: Mel Edwards with Curlee R. Holton

Artist Mel Edwards has drawn inspiration from the Historical Society of Pennsylvania’s collections. In collaboration with Raven Fine Art Editions, Edwards has created Vision and Purpose I, II, III, and IV, a serigraph art print. In creating the work, Edwards made use of HSP’s collections related to Father Divine (1877-1965), a religious leader and founder of the International Peace Mission. Join us as Raven founder and artist Curlee R. Holton discusses the project with Edwards, sharing insights on how contemporary artists give relevancy and new meaning to the archival materials.

Read more about the artist-in-residency program here.

Vision and Purpose I, II, III, and IV will be on view and will be available for purchase and the artist will be signing the works. Collections related to Father Divine will also be displayed during the event.

This event is offered in a hybrid format. The audience may join the artists at the Historical Society of Pennsylvania at 1300 Locust Street in Philadelphia, or via Zoom webinar.

The Historical Society of Pennsylvania gratefully acknowledges the support of Raven Fine Art Editions for this program and project. All print purchases support HSP’s mission of making history relevant and exhilating to all.

Speakers’ Bios:

Mel Edwards is a celebrated abstract steel metal sculptor based in Baltimore, Maryland, and upstate New York. His work has been the subject of over a dozen one-person exhibits and has been included in over 50 group shows. Characterized by the use of straight-edged triangular and rectilinear forms, his art often has a political context. His work is featured in many prominent museum collections nationally and internationally.

Curlee Raven Holton is the Founding Director and Master Printer at Raven Fine Art Editions. Holton is a highly regarded and award-winning artist, printmaker, and professor. Previously, he served as the founding director of The Experimental Printmaking Institute at Lafayette College. Holton received an MFA with a concentration in Printmaking from Kent State University after receiving a BFA in Drawing and Painting from the Cleveland Institute of Fine Arts. In 2015 he received the Anyone Can Fly Foundation Lifetime Achievement Award for expanding the appreciation of fine art printmaking. Renowned artist Faith Ringgold presented this award to Holton. He was awarded an Honorary Doctorate in Art and Philosophy from the Institute for Doctoral Studies in the Visual Arts (IDSVA) in 2018.

The Historical Society of Pennsylvania, founded in 1824, is one of the nation’s largest archives of historical documents. We are proud to serve as Philadelphia’s Library of American History, with over 21 million manuscripts, books, and graphic images encompassing centuries of US history. Through educator workshops, research opportunities, public programs, and lectures throughout the year, we strive to make history relevant and exhilarating to all. For more information, visit hsp.org.