WARWICK, N.Y.- Artist Frederick Franck, 97, died on June 5th of congestive heart failure at his home, according to his son Lukas. His art and writings reflected his deep interest in human spirituality. His steel, glass and wood sculptures are in public places around the country. Some of his paintings and drawings are in the collections of the Whitney Museum of American Art and the Museum of Modern Art and the in New York.

Frederick Franck was born in 1909 in Maastricht, Netherlands. He was a dental surgeon, and worked with Dr. Albert Schweitzer for three years in Gabon where he sketched people and the jungle. He later published a book, "My Days with Albert Schweitzer," in 1958.

Frederick Franck built a six-acre sculpture park and meditation space with his wife, Claske Berndes Franck. The park is called Pacem in Terris, and is dedicated to Pope John XXIII and Daisetz T. Suzuki. There are several Frederick Franck works in the park.

Franck wrote more than 30 books, including "The Zen of Seeing - Seeing/Drawing as Meditation," published in 1973, and "To Be Human Against All Odds," published in 1991. Many of his books explore comparative religion and spirituality.