The Salvation Army Kroc Community Center invited Northeast Wisconsin Woodwork Guild members to submit proposals for a unique artwork piece to adourn the community fireplace in one of the center’s lounge areas.  Berners-Schober Interiors provided initial suggestions as to the character of the piece and set architect and Northeast Wisconsin Woodwork Guild member, Rob Martens, on his creative way. 

“The composition I designed incorporated the Tree as the unifying element for the mission words and figures. The Tree seemed to me to encompass and enhance the intent of the art piece meaning. The piece is made of the following woods:  The base is solid walnut. The branches are laminated walnut and genuine mahogany. The tree foliage is figured cherry. The figures are bird’s-eye maple, and the letters are tiger maple. The wood is all finished in a natural Danish oil, and then a satin lacquer finish applied. The piece is signed with my custom wood-burned signature, and dated (on the back side.) The bottom has felt as to not mar the surface it is on. Approximate size is 38” wide by 31” tall by 5” depth.”

The only criteria of the artwork is that it needed to include the Salvation Army’s mission words: “ENCOURAGE”, “ENRICH”, and “STRENGTHEN,” as well as the human icons from the Kroc Center’s logo.  The final piece adds additonal warmth and symbolizes a facility already woven together with the elements of harmony and diversity in nature and humanity.