Melvin Edwards, Gate of Ogun, 1983
Summary
Melvin Edwards, Gate of Ogun, 1983
Stainless steel, 2 parts, Collection Neuberger Museum of Art, Purchase College, SUNY, Museum purchase with funds provided by Vera List and the Roy R. and Marie S. Neuberger Foundation, 1996.09.01 a & b
Background
At the main entrance to Purchase College’s academic plaza stands Gate of Ogun, a monumental sculpture by Melvin Edwards that commands both space and spirit. Composed of two interrelated stainless steel forms, the piece draws inspiration from Ogun, the Yoruba deity of iron, war, and creativity. In Yoruba mythology, Ogun is the divine blacksmith who forged the path between the spiritual and earthly realms, wielding iron to clear the way for other deities to enter the world.
The sculpture’s placement serves as a symbolic threshold, welcoming visitors into a space of learning and reflection. It stands as a testament to Edwards’s commitment to exploring African diasporic history and culture through contemporary abstract metal sculpture. He often utilizes industrial materials to evoke both the physicality of metalwork and the spiritual significance embedded in his subject matter.
DID YOU KNOW: Gate of Ogun was loaned to the White House from 1996-97.