Artists craft 26-foot tall sculpture

LENOIR — A glass artist and a metal sculptor have collaborated for two and one-half years to forge a 26-foot tall sculpture dubbed “Home,” which symbolizes the earth’s fragility and unity. Their creation is currently on display at the Western North Carolina Sculpture Park in Lenoir.

Fred Mead Jr., a glass artist from Forest City, and metal sculptor Zach Smith-Johnson, of Boone, met in 2019, at a sculpture celebration at the Lenoir park. Since then, they have planned and designed their massive piece of art that is sure to garner admiration from spectators.

In addition to its extraordinary height, the “Home” sculptor is (LED) internally lit by a solar unit that the artists built or can be electrified by a plug-in. The sculpture is entering its final patina stage, representing a profound reflection on our shared humanity and the delicate nature of the planet, Mead said.

The artists share a mutual fascination with the planets. Inspired by the enlightening words of astronauts and the writings of Frank White, they embarked on a mission to capture the essence of the planet earth as seen from space, Mead said. To read the full article click here