WILLIAM CHARLES SMITH, 2024

Mixed-media installation
CSPS Hall
Cedar Rapids, Iowa, USA

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Wheelchair, American flag, wood, butterflies, soil, ginkgo leaves, mixed media

Variable dimensions

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Created in memory of my grandfather, William Charles Smith (1931–2024), this installation honors a life shaped by service, empathy, and an enduring commitment to others. At its center, an all-white wheelchair draped with an American flag is lifted by hundreds of white butterflies, while a hand-built bench crafted by my grandfather and great-grandfather anchors the work in family history. Rooted in personal memory yet resonating beyond a single life, the installation reflects on service as both action and legacy, exploring how objects become vessels for remembrance, healing, and collective care.