Meet the Cauldron Artist: Miguel Edwards

As a visual artist, Miguel Edwards strives to “invite everyone to re-discover the curiosity we all had as children.” In doing so, he has created several iconic pieces of art that have joined the skyline of Seattle, including Perseus II, El Sol, and Saturnus. His most recent mark on the Puget Sound Region was made with his involvement in the 2018 USA Games.

Hosted in Seattle from July 1-6, the 2018 USA Games featured over 4,000 athletes competing on behalf of 51 Special Olympics delegations from across the United States. At the Opening Ceremony on July 1, over 39,000 people flooded to Husky Stadium to welcome the competitors and kick off a week that would exemplify the ideal of inclusion through sport.

Perhaps the most iconic moment of the Ceremony was the lighting of the Special Olympics Cauldron—where Miguel’s work truly shined. The 2018 USA Games was very fortunate to work with Miguel, who was quick to take on the project of producing the gleaming, blazing, 13-foot-tall, stainless steel tribute to the spirit of Special Olympics.

Inspired by all that the 2018 USA Games stood for, Miguel felt overjoyed and satisfied with his craftsmanship: “The courage and determination shown by these athletes was an inspiration to me as I worked on this piece,” he said, “and I hope that people will notice the love, hard work, and diligence that went into making the cauldron. Like the story of so many of these amazing athletes, it is a bit about never giving up.”

Thanks to Miguel’s hard work, the 2018 USA Games quite literally shined a light on the talents and abilities of people with intellectual disabilities. His story of inspiring others through art will not stop here: Miguel has recently moved to Bend, Oregon, where his creative journey will continue to touch the lives of those around him. If you want to keep up with his amazing work, he can be found on his website at www.migueledwards.com or on Instagram at @TheMiguelEdwards.