The artist Edwards speaks at Thursday’s unveiling event.
A practitioner of abstract and often minimalist sculpture, Edwards is known for his portrayal of race, labor and violence, as well as themes of the African diaspora, often through industrial and agricultural metalworks. His work has been displayed globally in museums, universities and public housing projects.
Edwards became acquainted with Driskell through fellow artist William T. Williams; while separated geographically, their paths crossed often in professional and personal circles.
“David was a part of things and a man of broad interest, not just in visual art but in the concepts of being a thoughtful and educated human being,” he said in an interview during the sculpture’s installation in February. “His focus was on culture, but he was humanistic; he was making an extra effort to put people and things together.”
The Driskell Center commissioned Edwards in 2021, and he and his team developed and fabricated the metalwork over the next three years. It will serve as the centerpiece of a garden dedicated to Driskell, an avid gardener who often depicted pine trees and landscapes; construction will begin after the Purple Line is completed.
While the piece is…
