By: Eric Zeng

Desmond Lewis, 28, is a sculptor that tries to bring themes of systemic racism into his works. Despite a budding career in sculpting, Lewis recently has delved into the world of pyrotechnics, eventually organizing the Juneteenth firework show for the community in Greenwood, Mississippi.

Lewis creates sculptures from industrial materials, often using steel and concrete. He received a Master of Fine Arts degree from the University of Memphis, where he’s based and where one of his more famous sculptures resides. His work, “America’s Forgotten”, is 16 feet tall and features a vertical block of concrete with large broken links of steel chain attached.

To Lewis, his sculptures mean more than what meets the eye. The smooth surfaces represent how the stories of slavery are covered up, and the broken or mangled parts represent white supremacy and black life.

In 2018, Lewis attended the Skowhegan School of Painting and Sculpture, a highly selective and prestigious institute. There he began his study of pyrotechnic sculpting, where he realized that he could use fireworks as a “socially acceptable” explosion. Although he transitioned to a new medium, he still wanted to address the same social themes. “As a black person,” he says, “you can only hold so much in for so long.”

Lewis began working for a pyrotechnic company and got enough training to receive his display operator’s license. He realized that less privileged communities couldn’t afford these display fireworks, and many of these communities had a black majority.

Lewis independently sought licenses to be able to transport and handle fireworks, so he could put on shows for others. He set his eyes on Greenwood, Mississippi, where the population was 70 percent black, and almost 30 percent of the population was below the national poverty threshold. The city had shows for Independence Day and Christmas, but Lewis wanted to make one for Juneteenth. He purchased 300 pounds of fireworks and drove 15 hours to Greenwood, where he put on a five-minute show of pink and green explosions.

The show was met with cheers and car honks. The mayor of Greenwood said that the show was a great time for “people enjoying life with friends and family.” When asked whether he would do it again, he said, “without a doubt.” Lewis wants to organize many more events in the future, especially to honor Juneteenth.