Voices Behind the Glass VIII

An Inside Look at the Sphere of Light from One of Its Visionary Creators

Welcome back to our Artist Interview Series, where each month we spotlight one of the talented artists bringing the Sphere of Light to life. Today we’re excited to introduce Nick Laywer who is one of the key artists and designers in crafting this monumental space.

About the Artist

Q: Can you share a bit about your art background and how you got started in stained glass? Ever since I was little, I have had a strong interest in art. Drawing, painting, creating things, crafts, anything creative. I took art classes all through school, but I had not really considered stained glass at first. About twelve years ago, I was in a position where I was looking for a job, and I happened to be related to someone who worked here. There were also a couple of people I knew who were already working here, and they let me know they were looking for help.

I came in, interviewed, got the job, and started in the production department building windows. Over time, I worked my way up into painting and designing. I studied illustration at UVU, and that is one reason I have really gravitated toward this style of art glass, because I like to tell stories with my art.

Q: Do you have a favorite technique or process in your work? Historically, I have been very detail oriented and almost perfectionistic in my work. Over the last few years, I have really pushed myself to loosen up, make mistakes, and let natural things happen in the process. Glass has helped guide that change, because it has its own natural beauty.

I love letting the glass perform and letting those natural occurrences happen instead of trying to define every little detail. Whether it is the color, small swirls, or contrast, the glass itself is really beautiful and impactful. After designing, I like choosing individual pieces of glass that mimic the artwork as much as possible, trying to do as much as I can without paint.

I try to think like a painter, using broad strokes and big shapes, without getting too tied up in details. There are things that have to be done with paint. You are not often going to find glass that naturally looks like a hand or has leopard spots. But there is a lot that can be done with just the natural beauty of the glass, and that is one of my favorite parts of the process.

About the Sphere of Light

Q: What does it mean to you to be part of the Sphere of Light project? The Sphere of Light project is really exciting to me because it is an opportunity to be heavily involved in artwork that will be on a world stage. It is high profile and will be seen by people all over the world. There are a lot of messages and scenarios that I think will be fun to create through art. This project gives me a way to communicate those ideas in a really exciting and meaningful way.

Q: How does your style and perspective contribute to the story of the Sphere? I like to keep things simple so the message is clear. I do not think you should have to explain what is going on. I think a successful piece of art is self explanatory, so I try to make the first impression very clear so people can immediately read it.

I also like to include subtle symbolism. These are details that are not obvious at first glance, but that people notice after spending time with the artwork. Because this is a team project, I also feel comfortable compromising. There is not just one person directing everything, and we all bring different perspectives. I think I am good at weaving those ideas together so the final piece works artistically and communicates what we all want it to say.

Q: What challenges have you faced while creating your work for this project? One of the main challenges is figuring out how to portray a specific emotion or scene clearly. We want something specific to be happening and something specific for people to take away from it. At the same time, we want to avoid confusing people or sending the wrong message.

Everyone brings their own background and experiences when they view art. The challenge is figuring out how to make the experience uplifting and meaningful, so it inspires people to act rather than just feel like they are looking at a nice piece of art.

Q: Can you walk us through your creative process for this piece? Early on, I thought it would be meaningful to show a father and child in a cave, venturing into the darkness together. The father is holding a torch and the child’s hand, showing that it is okay to be afraid of the dark, but that we still need to walk into it and face the things we are afraid of.

That idea can apply to many aspects of life. I started with a very loose sketch to present the idea to the group, then added color. The idea resonated, but at that point the rest of the cave had not been designed yet, so we needed to find the right place for it. As the rest of the scene developed, this became the right setting for those two figures.

Personal Connection and Impact

Q: What emotions or messages do you hope people take away from the Sphere of Light? I hope people see that despite our different backgrounds, cultures, and perspectives, we are all essentially the same. We are all human and face similar challenges. We may approach them differently, but the experiences are shared.

One goal is to present scenes symbolically enough that they can apply to many people, not just a small group. We also want to move people emotionally in a way that inspires positive change, no matter how big or small that change might be.

Q: Has working on the Sphere of Light changed your perspective on art or humanity? I see this project as a love letter to humanity. We want to show both the good and the bad, while expressing appreciation for people and their contributions to humanity. It has been meaningful to work with a group and discuss scenes and ideas that can be understood across cultures and experiences.

There are types of artwork that I personally love that do not appeal to everyone, and everyone has those niche interests. With this project, we are trying to reach as many people as possible. That is difficult, and we understand that not everyone will connect with it the same way. But we come from a place of love and empathy, and we are doing the best we can to communicate that.

Q: If you could describe the Sphere of Light in three words, what would they be? The three words I would use are impactful, surprising, and unique.

We will see you all next month for another Artist Interview! Make sure to Follow Us online to stay up to date on all the things happening with the Sphere.

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