From Drawings to Steel: Funding the Garden’s Next Chapter

by emoorheadwallace

More work on the Chagigah Shel Gina project…

You already know the garden is thriving; if you’ve been following along, you’ve heard about the duck race, the Rayman family’s beautiful sitting stones, and all that mint and kale waiting to be picked. That part of the story is well underway.

What we haven’t talked about yet is what comes next, and what it’ll actually take to get there.

The Drawings Are Becoming Steel

Back at our very first workshop, neighbors sat down and sketched the images that would eventually shape Chagigah Shel Gina’s centerpiece: a steel sculpture and functional play structure, built directly from community artwork. It’s designed as a multi-person swing, to gathered in/around and enjoyed for generations, not just admired from afar.

That’s the piece we’re now raising funds to fabricate and install, along with permanent signage for the space.

Where We Stand

To date, the project has drawn over $7,000 in grants and donations, money that shaped the garden you can walk through today. Finishing the sculpture will take an additional $10,000. That’s the gap between where we are and a completed Chagigah Shel Gina.

We’re not there yet, but we’re not starting from zero, either. And hearing from people who’ve already chosen to be part of this tells us why it’s worth finishing:

“The Garden of Celebration is a beautiful spot of connection in our community. Through this public art project, Emily and Taylor are fostering genuine moments of positivity and thoughtfulness. I love their welcoming and community-oriented approach to creating this peaceful space. So glad to have been a small part of it!”
— Kelly Ferguson

“We donated because the Celebration Garden blends art and nature, creating a welcoming place for the community to enjoy.”
— Chip and Brenda Rayman

Join Us: Sundown in the Sukkah

Sukkot is the Jewish harvest festival, a joyful time to gather, give thanks for the abundance around us, and spend time together in the sukkah. This year, the Knoxville Jewish Alliance is bringing that spirit to life with Sundown in the Sukkah, an evening of food, music, and community out by the sukkah at the AJCC.

Wednesday, September 30, 6:00–8:00 PM at the AJCC

Community member Bruce Bogartz will be cooking up food for purchase from his food truck, with live music from Watson & Meade, a Knoxville acoustic duo blending fiddle, guitar, banjo, mandolin, and harmony. Taylor and I will be there too, to talk about the garden and answer questions in person and since it’s a harvest festival, there will be fresh herbs ready to pick straight from the beds.

Come for a beautiful fall evening, meet your neighbors, hear some great music, and celebrate Sukkot together. Tickets are free, we just ask you to register in advance so we can prepare appropriately. [Register here].

If You’d Like to Be Part of the Next Chapter

If any of this resonates (the garden, the sculpture, the idea of a public space built from community input) we’d genuinely love to hear from you. Reach out anytime at newrootstn@gmail.com with questions, ideas, or interest in getting involved.

For those ready to give directly: gifts can be made online through the Knoxville Jewish Alliance (select “Celebration Garden” under Make a Donation to KJA), or by check made payable to Knoxville Jewish Alliance with “Celebration Garden” in the memo line, mailed to KJA c/o Celebration Garden, 6800 Deane Hill Dr SW, Knoxville, TN 37919. Sponsorship opportunities are available for businesses as well. And all gifts, of any size, will be noted in the final permanent signage.

More on the project is always up at emoorheadwallace.com.