Rockers: 1970s–present

In the 1970s, Melvin Edwards began to create a series of Rockers, which were inspired in part by his grandmother and her rocking chair. These dynamic sculptures adapt the kineticism of Alexander Calder and Jean Tinguely’s works, their structure and motion suggest embracing, dancing, and hugging. As Edwards expands about these pieces, “When I rocked … [them] because the chain was flexible, it lagged behind in terms of gravity, in terms of movement. … So it affects what would be the normal balance. … So I said, whoa, the chain syncopates the motion of the rocker! … And I use the word with a sense of sensitivity to syncopation used in relation to African American music, as an emphatic quality.”