Heart Sculpture
TOM RISSER
This sculpture is located in the Margie Campbell Healing Garden in front of the Heart and Vascular Center at the main entrance of Atrium Health Cabarrus. Standing at an impressive 12 feet tall, this sculpture was crafted from refurbished and repurposed scrap stainless steel.
In 2016, the artist was diagnosed at Atrium Health Cabarrus with five blockages in his heart requiring surgery and extended recovery time. It was this event that inspired Risser to draw one of the most meaningful sketches he ever created—his vision of what was going on with his heart. Several years later from these sketches Tom created a one-of-a-kind metal sculpture capturing his emotions from that moment in time. He graciously donated this sculpture to provide hope and healing to other cardiac patients and to show his gratitude for the great care he received.
ABOUT THE ARTIST
Tom Risser is the owner of US Bottlers Machinery Company, a Charlotte-based specialized packaging company. Nearly all of the materials he uses for his artwork are leftover metals from his company – refurbished and repurposed scrap stainless steel. He sees his contribution as “just putting (in) my labor and imagination for it.”
A philosophical and intentioned man, Risser feels strongly about the work he does: “art itself is just an escape, a therapy – rehab.”
Risser describes himself: “I am a late bloomer who discovered metal sculpture at age 35 and have been passionate about art ever since. I have been skateboarding since I was 12 and am a trained engineer as well. I use both sides of my brain every day and therefore mix my creativity with my vocation to strive for innovation and originality each day. I am a dad, a husband, a business owner, an artist, a little bit of a nut, and am classified by my wife as weird. I hold three degrees and use almost none of them during the week. I love to give back to the community and to skate really fast. I am off the map. That sums it up folks.”
The Wingate Art Program is supported by Cabarrus Healthcare Foundation.
Your donations to the Wingate Art Program will ensure its continued success.
Heart
Sculpture
TOM RISSER
This sculpture is located in the Margie Campbell Healing Garden in front of the Heart and Vascular Center at the main entrance of Atrium Health Cabarrus. Standing at an impressive 12 feet tall, this sculpture was crafted from refurbished and repurposed scrap stainless steel.
In 2016, the artist was diagnosed at Atrium Health Cabarrus with five blockages in his heart requiring surgery and extended recovery time. It was this event that inspired Risser to draw one of the most meaningful sketches he ever created—his vision of what was going on with his heart. Several years later from these sketches Tom created a one-of-a-kind metal sculpture capturing his emotions from that moment in time. He graciously donated this sculpture to provide hope and healing to other cardiac patients and to show his gratitude for the great care he received.
ABOUT THE ARTIST
Tom Risser is the owner of US Bottlers Machinery Company, a Charlotte-based specialized packaging company. Nearly all of the materials he uses for his artwork are leftover metals from his company – refurbished and repurposed scrap stainless steel. He sees his contribution as “just putting (in) my labor and imagination for it.”
A philosophical and intentioned man, Risser feels strongly about the work he does: “Art itself is just an escape, a therapy – rehab.”
Risser describes himself: “I am a late bloomer who discovered metal sculpture at age 35 and have been passionate about art ever since. I have been skateboarding since I was 12 and am a trained engineer as well. I use both sides of my brain every day and therefore mix my creativity with my vocation to strive for innovation and originality each day. I am a dad, a husband, a business owner, an artist, a little bit of a nut, and am classified by my wife as weird. I hold three degrees and use almost none of them during the week. I love to give back to the community and to skate really fast. I am off the map. That sums it up folks.”
The Wingate Art Program is supported by Cabarrus Healthcare Foundation. Your donations to the Wingate Art Program will ensure its continued success.
