The “Chagigah Shel Gina Project” is an art and education project at the Arnstein Jewish Community Center (AJCC) in Knoxville, transforming outdated landscaping into a welcoming outdoor space anchored by a sculptural swing and a garden of plants tied to Jewish cultural traditions. Since launching in Fall 2025, the project has completed two community workshops and planted the garden — now in full bloom and ready for its first harvest.
Artists Emily Moorhead-Wallace and J Taylor Wallace continue to lead design and construction of the play sculpture, built from cut silhouettes created during community drawing workshops at the AJCC.
All programming is free, inclusive, and widely promoted to ensure equitable participation. Together, the garden and sculpture swing will offer a lasting space for cultural celebration, creative expression, and community connection.
Where We Are Now
– workshops done
– garden planted
– garden in bloom & harvest ready (visit the garden, sit on the resting stones, and pick kale or mint to use in your kitchen)
– sculpture funding still needed
SUPPORT THE PROJECT
The garden is planted and thriving. We’re now raising the remaining funds needed for garden maintenance and to build the sculpture.
All donations will be noted in the permanent project didactic at the site.
Your generosity will help plant the seeds for a vibrant, creative, and inclusive gathering place that celebrates art, nature, and cultural tradition. We hope you’ll join us in bringing Chagigah Shel Gina Project to life.
Under Make a Donation to KJA, select Gardens of Celebration.
To Donate by Check, make payable to Knoxville Jewish Alliance with memo Celebration Garden. Then mail to: KJA, ℅ Celebration Garden 6800, Deane Hill Dr SW, Knoxville, TN 37919
Project Contributors Include: Blanche & Alex Nicoll, Josh Gilliland, Risa Hricovsky, Steven Friedlander, Abraham & Judy Brietstein, Chip & Brenda Rayman, Michael Messing & Joyce York, the Abram Family, Dan Talley, Pat Rosenberg, Jim Sexton, the Tullos-Wunderlich family, the Pike-Harris Family, Toosie Jablonski, Molly Landman, Kristen & Ernesto Rumerez, Scott & Amanda Jacobson, Noa & Gitai Barak, Knox Fresh Farms, Jerry’s Artarama, the Powell Foundation, Whole Foods Market, and Potchke Bagel.
Upcoming Events
Fall garden workday – weeding, planting, harvesting – date TBD
Past Events
Seed Sculpture Workshop at KJDS Family Fun Day (April 19th, 8042 Gleason Drive, Knoxville, TN)
Garden of Celebrations Community Planting/Good Deeds Day (April 12th, 2026)
Garden of Celebration: Drawing Workshop (November 6th, 2025)
info and photos from event found here
Interested in helping out?
Concept Drawings
Chagigah Shel Gina concept design (Hebrew for “Garden of Celebrations”) design for Arnstein Jewish Community Center in Knoxville, Tennessee
partial finding for this project has been provided by
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Emily Moorhead-Wallace 