Client: Princeton HealthCare System Foundation

Overview

“Remembrance of Gifts Past” 10′ high x 12′ x 9′, steel and bronze. Sculptor Francois Guillemin (le Corbeau) was commissioned by the Princeton Healthcare System Foundation to create a sculpture for the new Punia Family Healing Garden at the University Medical Center of Princeton at Plainsboro. Their request was to integrate a series of bronze donor plaques which had been taken out of the old hospital. le Corbeau created a sculpture with wind-driven sounding elements that allowed for interaction by those visiting the garden. The bronze plaques were melted down to create the bell components.

Goals

The sculpture was placed in the center of the walled garden with the architecture surrounding three sides. le Corbeau's proposal considered the scale of the sculpture to the garden and its surrounding, as well as to the hardscape. The sculpture's materials, color scheme, and design were intended to provide organic forms as a contrast to its environment.

Process

le Corbeau met the commissioning parties' request to use recycled bronze by melting down the donor plaques in the foundry process for the bell components. He met with the landscape designer to understand the site conditions and requirements for footings. The design and fabrication processes met the commission budget and timeline requirements.