Joy Knapp Memorial Sculpture

Skokie, Illinois

A memorial sculpture conceived as an inversion of a cemetery and encouraging community.

Joy Knapp, an accomplished businessperson and philanthropist passed away suddenly when JMA was helping her design her home on Chicago’s Magnificent Mile.

Her estate funded the Joy Faith Knapp Children’s Center to benefit children with learning disabilities. JMA designed and oversaw the fabrication of a memorial sculpture celebrating her spirit.

The sculpture is sited across from the entry to the school. It is composed of stone, mosaic tile and recycled cast bronze. Conceptually it inverts a static grave yard of stones in an natural setting: here,  organic forms sprout from a bed of stone to invite the Children’s Center community to sit down together.