EARTHCASTER documents Thomas Sayre's evolution as an artist, and follows Sayre and his crew as they build two of his signature massive earthen sculptures. Working out of a repurposed warehouse in Raleigh, N.C, the internationally known sculptor and designer has been creating public art installations for decades in sites around the world. From Thailand to Turkey and in a number of U.S. cities - including Baltimore, Charlotte, Denver, Nashville, Portland, Raleigh, Tucson, and his hometown of Washington, D.C. - Sayre has been commissioned to reflect the distinctive identity and history of each place. "My artwork is also part of a larger spiritual pursuit of balance," Sayre explains. Through a process he calls "earthcasting," Sayre explores the differences between forms made by nature and those made by humans. Using heavy equipment to dig complex molds in the earth, the artist then pours in colored concrete that echoes the hue of the native soil. Once the concrete cures, the sculptures are lifted by crane to stand in bold relief against the sky and landscape. Interviews with colleagues, friends, family members, and everyday citizens who encounter Sayre's work daily, address the value and significance of public art in the chaos of the digital age, and what his work reveals about ourselves, our communities and our planet.
