This was a fun project. The zoo raised two and a half million dollars for the new giraffe exhibit and wanted to recognize their donors. To find an artist, they issued a call for artists in Tennessee and asked for qualifications. They then selected five finalists and asked each to present a preliminary design concept. After each finalist presented to the selection committee, my design was selected. To produce the project, I worked with Steve Bach, a friend who is a fine artist in his own right. Although the donor wall is quite large, it is also light and lace-like so one can see the exhibit through the giraffe spots. The names of the donors are etched into the clay spots that hang on very thin steel cables. The spring loaded tensioning system for the cables was designed by Steve.
Arnold Schwarzbart
Mary Linda Schwarzbart: the maquette, with the sample plaques, is what Arnold and Steve Bach used in their presentation to the zoo's selection committee. The zoo kept it. Arnold was barely home before he received the call that they had the commission.
Studio of Arnold Schwarzbart
Arnold Schwarzbart ז״ל · 1942 – 2015 · Knoxville, Tennessee