In Collaboration with Artist Thomas Sayre
Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Medical Science Building II
Completed 2020

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"Between Earth and Sky" is a large-scale, earth cast installation designed by artist Thomas Sayre for the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center in El Paso. Situated along a prominent pedestrian walkway adjacent to the Medical Science Building II, the artwork explores the intersection of science, healing, and humanity.

The piece metaphorically asserts that humans exist between the physical and the spiritual—between body and mind, earth and sky. This theme is expressed both literally and symbolically: the lower sculptural walls were cast directly into hand-shaped earthen molds, evoking the raw weight of the land, while kinetic wind vanes rise above, capturing the subtle movements of the wind and sky.

Functionally integrated into the landscape, the walls act as both a pedestrian enclosure and a retaining system in certain areas. The installation also addresses stormwater flow as part of the overall site engineering strategy. While each panel has a unique sculptural identity, they flow seamlessly into one another, creating a rhythmic continuity of texture and form across the space.

More than 70 custom panels were used to bring the work to life—each one hand-crafted, each one capturing the balance of art and science that defines both the piece and the institution it serves. “Between Earth and Sky” reminds us that wellness arises not just from medical science, but from harmony within the human experience.

“Between Earth and Sky” required extensive collaboration between the artist, engineers, and Lucas Concrete to execute both the vision and the functional demands of this high-profile healthcare campus.

The installation is composed of over 70 individually earth cast panels, each one poured into hand-sculpted molds shaped directly in the ground. This method allowed for richly textured, organic surfaces that could not be achieved with traditional formwork. The challenge was to ensure continuity—each panel featured a distinct texture and profile, but was carefully designed to transition fluidly from one to the next, both in surface treatment and in the undulating top and serpentine horizontal plan.

Beyond its aesthetic qualities, the structure served multiple functional roles:

• Pedestrian Enclosure: The earth cast walls created a protected and visually engaging pathway through the site.
• Retaining Walls: In several areas, the panels also retained grade along the sloped landscape.
• Stormwater Management: The form and placement of the panels played into the broader stormwater egress strategy for the medical campus.

The dual curvatures—horizontal serpentine and vertically undulating—required advanced planning and precision during layout and fabrication. Each panel had to be individually cast, reinforced, transported, and installed while maintaining the intended flow of the overall piece.

The result is a masterwork of collaboration between artist and fabricator, merging landscape architecture, civil engineering, and public art in one cohesive, powerful experience.