Just a reminder, Sundown in the Sukkah is happening tonight, 6:00–8:00 PM at the Arnstein Jewish Community Center. 800 Deane Hill Dr, Knoxville, TN 37919 Come celebrate the harvest with us. We’ll have coloring for all ages, fresh herbs to harvest straight from the Garden of Celebration beds, and a chance to make your own dried plant arrangement to take home for the Sukkot holiday. Add in food from Bruce Bogartz’s food truck and live music from Watson & Meade, and it’s shaping up to be a beautiful evening. All are welcome – no need to have registered in advance…

We’ve had a lot to celebrate at the Garden of Celebration lately, and we’re excited to share where things stand. The TN Arts Commission grant is officially closed out. This funding brought the garden itself to life, from the beds, to the plantings, to the workshops that shaped its design. With that phase complete, our attention now turns to the sculptural swing that will anchor and finish the space. The garden is thriving, but Chagigah Shel Gina isn’t done yet. That’s where Adult Swim, our duck race fundraiser, comes in…and it was a wonderful success! Thank you to everyone who…

Last Sunday, 60+ community members showed up, dug in, and got their hands dirty — and we couldn’t be more grateful. Together we planted over 70 plants and moved what felt like an entire mountain of mulch and gravel into the garden. Not bad for an afternoon’s work! A huge thank you to the Harris/Pike family for keeping the work stations humming, Tootsie Jablonski and David Dalton for making plant science genuinely fascinating, and Tara Bain with UTK Hillel for bringing serious energy. Knoxville–Oak Ridge Hadassah ran a wonderful plant swap, guests sampled Jewish heritage recipes inspired by the garden,…

I’m honored to share that I am a finalist for the new public sculpture commission at Suttree Landing Park, in collaboration with J Taylor Wallace. Our proposal is a living sculpture — a steel trellis constructed from heavy-gauge plates that dovetail together at the top to form a strong, interlocking crown. Designed to support climbing plants, the piece will evolve seasonally as vines grow through and around the structure. The side walls feature cut silhouettes of dogwood blossoms, referencing East Tennessee’s landscape and casting shifting shadows along the riverfront path. The project, organized by SoKno Sculpt in partnership with the…

(Existing site to be modified) We’re excited to share that construction of Chagigah Shel Gina (Celebration Garden) begins at the end of February! Our first steps will include removing the existing swing and carefully harvesting the stone path so the materials can be reused in the new garden. This process of reclamation reflects our commitment to sustainability and honoring the site’s history as we transform it. We’ll then begin building forms and pouring the concrete footers for the new sculpture; laying the literal foundation for this meaningful public artwork. You’ll likely see construction equipment on site the week of February…

I’m excited to share a recent interview featuring my life and work with Voyager Knoxville. In the article, I talk about my path as a sculptor and art services professional, and how my experiences as a registrar, gallery technician, and independent art handler led me to found New Roots. The interview explores what it means to work behind the scenes caring for artwork; collaborating with artists and institutions, solving complex installation challenges, and approaching each project with creativity, precision, and respect for the work itself. It also touches on my belief that art has the power to transform homes, public…

In 2025, our work centered on making art happen in the world—through collaboration, community participation, and professional practice. Across public art, education, and art services, this year was defined by growth, stewardship, and shared authorship. I am so proud of the work we’ve done and love every day I spend making creative solutions and playing with art! Building Chagigah Shel Gina (The Garden of Celebration) This year marked a major step forward for Chagigah Shel Gina, a community-engaged public art and garden project rooted in cultural tradition, accessibility, and collective making. We facilitated public workshops, gathered drawings and stories from…

I’m excited to highlight my collaborative partner, husband, and the person who helps turn big ideas into reality: J. Taylor Wallace. Who He Is J. Taylor Wallace is a 3D mixed-media artist and designer based in Knoxville, Tennessee. He previously ran Metal Magic Interiors Inc. in Chicago, where he became known for transforming creative concepts into beautifully crafted physical works. Beyond his creative practices, he is also a plant lover, community activist, and father of three (2 kids and 1 dog). What He Brings J. Taylor has a rare ability to bridge imagination and fabrication. He takes sketches, concepts, and…

The Garden of Celebration grows out of generations of Jewish tradition, bringing holiday plants into a living, communal landscape. Each plant in the garden connects us to rituals, foods, and stories that have shaped Jewish life across time and place. As we move toward planting season, we’re excited to highlight how these traditions will come alive—especially in these cold months we’ll think about the plants associated with Chanukah. Chanukah Plants & Their Traditions While Chanukah is best known for its lights, it is also a holiday rich in culinary symbolism. Foods fried in oil commemorate the miracle of the Temple’s…