Retired Kent State professor Henry Halem has been created a 9 piece glass series in honor of the 20th Sept. 11 anniversary. 

The displayed pieces are made out of shattered glass in a 2-dimensional narrative, which add a layer of “metaphorical meaning” to the pieces. 

The focal point of these nine pieces is the Twin Towers because he appreciated “the geometry, starkness and the way they stood out from the rest of the city.”

All of the individual pieces came together as one to tell the story of the events on Sept. 11 and represented “nine different ways of expressing it was rare,” he said.

He has only ever done two other commemorative projects in his career, one being for the Vietnam War and one for the Iraq War. 

Born and raised in New York himself, Halem could not put the 9/11 tragedies into words. Years later, he was able to make it into art. 

Today, Halem is still making art and he believes “art is not about inspiration, it’s about expression and craftsmanship.”

Through the craftsmanship and expression of art, Halem became a globally renowned artist. He has art work displayed in the Smithsonian, the Hokkaido & Niijima Museums in Japan and the Museum of Decorative Arts in the Czech Republic. 

No matter where Halem’s art goes, the feeling you get looking at the pieces he has created does not change.

Jordan Coleman covers the arts and entertainment. Contact her at [email protected].