Cotswold’s “onion rings” have defined a prominent intersection — and gotten people talking — for 25 years.
by Sharon Smith | photograph by Justin Driscoll
The intersection of Wendover and Randolph roads would not be the same without these two rust-colored rings. The monumental sculptures have become part of the landscape, just like the trees that hug the sidewalk along this corridor into uptown.
But in 2000, Thomas Sayre’s Grandiflora stood out as a bold piece of art in a city where public art installations were few and far between. The “onion rings,” as they were informally and infamously called, is now a term of endearment — a way locals express affection for Sayre’s work.
In a Facebook group devoted to all things Charlotte, someone recently asked whether the “onion rings” were gone. The reaction was swift. People quickly confirmed the continued presence of their beloved Grandiflora.
It’s one of Sayre’s first sculptures using a technique he calls “earthcasting.” It involves digging large molds with heavy equipment and hand tools, which are later filled with reinforced concrete mixed with iron oxide. Once cured, the pieces are made to stand with engineered footings.
“Out of Mother Earth comes human-made forms which stand up against father sky,” Sayre says.
Sayre, who lives in Raleigh, has a similar installation, Gyre, at the North Carolina Museum of Art. He’s also known for the series of earthen-hued discs, Furrow, along either side of the light-rail tracks in South End.
Sayre says inspiration for Grandiflora came during his first site visit when he noticed dozens of mature magnolia trees had been cleared to make way for higher-density housing. He says the work “directly refers to those once noble trees” and reflects the shape of magnolia blossom seeds.
At once, a nod to Charlotte’s past and future as an evolving Southern city. SP
