Artist behind iconic art museum 'rings' to install giant earthcasting sculpture on major Cary roadway

The artist behind the iconic giant rings at the NC Museum of Art will be installing a new earthcasting sculpture on a major Cary roadway.

Last Thursday, Griffin Weston and Singh hosted a groundbreaking for the new public art exhibit, unveiling details and renderings of the upcoming project.

Thomas Sayre is internationally known for his iconic earthcasting sculptures, which are often monumental in scale, made from enormous shapes of earth and concrete that play with light and shadow.

Some of his most well-known earthcasting sculptures are 'Gyre,' which is more commonly referred to as the 'portal' or the 'giant rings' at the NC Museum of Art.

He also created 'Oberlin Rising,' an earthcasting designed to celebrate and memorialize the historic freedman's village in Raleigh, which was developed from men and women freed from slavery on local plantations. The monument stands between modern day Oberlin and the Village District.

The groundbreaking was attended by council members and Mayor Pro Temp Don Frantz, who said, "Cary is growing fast. We need to make sure we built things that stand the test of time and add value."

“Thomas Sayer’s work is iconic and unmistakable," said Public Art Supervisor and Curator of Exhibitions, Denise Dickens. "You will immediately recognize his work. Thomas is probably one of the most well know public artists living in NC. “

On his website, Sayre said his art "seeks to capture the intersection between the forces of human creativity and those of nature."

For a full look at the virtual groundbreaking and unveiling of future plans, here is a full live stream of the event.