Donor Wheel

More than 2,000 donors are acknowledged in this one-of-a-kind sculpture by Joshua Kirsch

The Arts Council commissioned New Jersey artist Joshua Kirsch to create a wall sculpture as an acknowledgment of the more than 2,000 donors to the Campaign to Build the Paul Robeson Center for the Arts. The spectacular interactive wall sculpture features a six foot diameter disk with all donor names in alphabetical order. Visitors may select a section of names to view by using a key pad. When a letter is selected, the sculpture rotates to center the alpha section, which is illuminated.

donor wheel
Kirsch

Interview with Joshua Kirsch

The Arts Council sat down to talk to Joshua Kirsch about his art and the Arts Council's new donor sculpture:

How would you describe the work you do?

I like to describe my work as sculpture for the sake of sculpture. With this in mind, I aim to create art that is not only aesthetically pleasing but also engaging and captivating. I always pour tons of attention into the details. It is very important to me that my art appear just as accomplished when viewed up close (if not more so) as when viewed from afar. I’m fascinated by little screws and wires and I love to showcase these materials in my work. Everything is out in the open for the viewer to see and nothing, not even the electronic circuitry, is ever hidden from view. Instead, it is treated as sculptural medium and given the same thought and attention as the rest of the sculpture. There is very often an interactive aspect that is central to my work. I like to think there is never a velvet rope that separates my art from the viewer. Instead, he or she is invited to touch the sculpture, to look at it up close, and to change and manipulate it in whichever way he or she seems fit. Therefore it is not simply a product of my own artistic expression, but a manifestation of the relationship between the sculpture and the viewer. It’s that interactivity that ultimately allows my work to achieve its full potential.

What inspired the circular design of the donor wheel?

The design for this sculpture came about as a creative solution to two questions: One, how can we display a large number of donor names in a small space while giving equal consideration to the placement of each name? And two, how do we set this donor wall apart and treat it more as a unique piece of sculpture than just a standard list? I tried to address these questions when planning the ACP donor sculpture. The work’s rotating circular design literally gives each contributor an equal amount of time in the spotlight while showcasing each and every name with modern materials and white light. Ultimately, however, I’d say I chose the circular design because I like circles. For me, there is no more pleasing geometric shape than a circle and I use circles and circular motion in just about everything I make.

Why do you incorporate so much elaborate technology in your sculpture?

I like to create the kind of art that I would find striking if I saw it somewhere. If a piece of art catches my eye, chances are it will either be kinetic or electronic in some way or another. That is why I like to incorporate those concepts into my own work. Although my art may seem to be quite technologically sophisticated, it is actually relatively uninvolved compared to some of the other stuff that’s out there. I generally like to take some of the simplest of circuitry (LED’s, capacitors, resistors, etc.) and utilize it in such a way that it appears intricate and beautiful. Although technology definitely plays a pivotal role in my art, my real passion lies with the construction and fabrication… What’s the best way to attach this piece of plastic to this piece of aluminum? What size screw will I use? If I use this type of spring here, will that apply the right amount of tension? These are the questions that get me really excited.

Where do you draw inspiration from?

I’d say that I’m inspired by objects and materials more than anything else. A simple glass reed switch was the inspiration for an entire sculpture series and over two and a half years of work, that is still ongoing. A couple of years ago I dropped a piece of wood on a concrete floor and it produced a clear resonant tone. I was immediately inspired to create a musical sculpture that incorporated this idea. This is actually the direction I see myself going in next. I want to create interactive sculptures that are not only beautiful, but functional, too, so that you can actually play them like you would a musical instrument. I feel that this idea will create an even deeper relationship between sculpture and viewer, allowing him or her to create his or her own music with my art.

Any memorable experiences with the Arts Council?

So far, everything’s been going pretty smoothly. It’s been really exciting working with the Arts Council on this project, developing ideas and solving problems, pushing towards a final product that we’re all fired up about. Above all, I am very grateful to have the opportunity to create this unique work of art for the Arts Council and to be given the chance to bring my vision and talent to such a cool project. When completed, I believe the sculpture will be an elegant and captivating piece of art that will proudly showcase all those who made possible the construction of the new Paul Robeson Center for the Arts, and the advancement of Princeton’s artistic community, which I am very happy to be a part of.

Joshua Kirsch is a sculptor who works primarily in electronic components.

The Arts Council of Princeton gratefully acknowledges the generosity of the more than 2,000 individuals and organizations who have contributed time, money and services towards the Campaign to Build the Paul Robeson Center for the Arts. It is a tremendous statement about the greater Princeton community’s commitment to the arts.

Paul Robeson Circle

($1,000,000 and above)
Helena & Peter Bienstock
Judith & William Scheide

Michelangelo Circle

($500,000 – $999,999)
David Mathey
Estelle & George Sands

Rembrandt Circle

($100,000 – $499,999)
Timothy M. Andrews
Didi & James Burke
Betty Wold Johnson & Douglas Bushnell
Concordia Foundation
Michael Graves
J. Seward Johnson, Sr. 1963 Charitable Trust
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Princeton University
Katherine Solley
Weezie & John Steffens
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Mozart Circle

($50,000 – $99,999)
Anonymous
Bristol-Myers Squibb
Barbara Chancellor
Donna & Mort Collins
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Nelson Obus
Nancy O’Connor
The Ralph E. Ogden Foundation
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Amy & Jay Regan
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Caroline S. & F. Helmut Weymar
Anne Wright & Bob Wilson
Carol & Alex Wojciechowicz

Martha Graham Circle

($25,000 – $49,999)
Anonymous
Chris Baker, Esq.
The Bunbury Company
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Patricia Hagan
Sam Hamill, Jr.
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The David Mathey Trust
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Ray Stratmeyer
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Picasso Circle

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Bloomberg L.P.
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Dow Jones Foundation
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Emily Dickinson Circle

($5,000 – $9,999)
The Bolton Foundation
Robert Cannon
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The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
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Ann & Austin C. Starkey, Jr.
Kimberly von Brandenstein & Charles M. Stone III
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Hemingway Circle

($1,000 – $4,999)
Michael Aaron
Alison Gwen Fraker Memorial Fund
American Repertory Ballet/Princeton Ballet School
Teresa & John Anderson
Robert Aresty
Nancy & Henry Arnold
Deanna & Sal Arnone
Arts Council of Princeton Staff
Blair & Bill Ayers
Ellen & Charles Baber
Carol & Gregory Bagen
Katherine & Mohammad Baki
Bank of Princeton
Jennifer Mullen & Edward Bergman
Geralyn Berkery
Cindy & Frits Besselaar
Anne Bienstock
Lisa & Anthony Bienstock
Eliza Bienstock
Heather Bienstock
Louisa Bienstock
Luke Bienstock
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N.T. Callaway Real Estate Broker, LLC.
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Foundation
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Martha Otis
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Claire & Edward Percarpio
Elizabeth Stetson & William Pettit
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Pharmanet Development Group
Linda Pickering
PNC Bank Princeton
PNC Foundation
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Candace & Marvin Preston
Kathleen & Jonathan Preziosi
Princeton Area Community Foundation
– The Herb & Fay Abelson Fund
– The Elly & Giorgio Petronio Fund
– The Anne Van Lent Fund
– The Leslie “Bud” Vivian Fund
Princeton Borough Merchants Association
Princeton Junior School
Princeton Public Library
Princeton Regional Chamber of Commerce
Princeton Shopping Center
Princeton University Art Museum
Princeton University Art Museum
Docent Association
Princeton University Press
Princeton YWCA
Arnold Rampersad
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Ann & Jerry Reilly
Millard Riggs, Jr.
Carol & François Rigolot
Lynn & Jerry Ringland
Kim Rizk/ Henderson Sotheby’s
International Realty
Elisa & Richard Rosen
Rosetta
Rotary Club of Princeton
Christine & Charles St. John
Jamie Sapoch/ The Sapoch Family
Shirley Satterfield
Dr. & Mrs. Daniel Sauder & Family
Debbie Schaeffer
Ruth & David Scott
Virginia & William Selden
Sydnor & Noel Settle
Max Shane
Pamela Sherin
Joyce & Stephen Shueh
Myrna & Lawrence Siegler
Gwynneth & Frank Smith
Caroline & Ken Smith
Nina Wainwright & Tom Sowanick
Judy & Edwin Stier
Mr. & Mrs. Henry Stratmeyer, Jr.
Sheila & Donald C. Stuart, III
Stuart Country Day School
Flora Ling & Paul Sturm
Madhvi & Ramesh Subrahmanian
Linda B. Sullivan
Dorothy Bedford & Rush Taggart
Patricia & Toby Taylor
William Taylor
Tenacre Foundation
Harriet Pakula Teweles
Robert Teweles
Janet Stern & George Theodoridis
Grace White & W. Bryce Thompson
Katie Poole & Ward Tomlinson
Pam & John Torkelson
Charles Townsend, Jr.
Patricia Trapp
Barbara & Robert Trelstad
Letitia & Charles Ufford
University Orthopaedics
Cynthia & William Venizelos
Kimberly Vine
Happy & John Wallace
Deborah Walson
Westminster Choir College
Diana & Matthew Weymar
Myra & Van Zandt Williams, Jr.
Ruth & Donald Wilson
Kathleen & John Winant
Lisbeth & Norman Winarsky
Albert Wise
Marcia & Warren Wood
Patricia Wormser

Full list of Capital donors (including those under $1,000) can be found in the 2007/08 Annual Report.