Artwork copyright Steve Gardner. Photo courtesy of Washington State Arts Commission, 2017.

La Zarzamora, 1998

Steve Gardner
American (born 1968)

Location: North Whidbey Middle School, Oak Harbor

About the Artwork

La Zarzamora is a terra cotta relief sculpture by artist Steve Gardner. The title is Spanish for "The Blackberry" and is displayed alongside a paired sculpture titled La Espina which translates to "The Thorn." Gardner describes these pieces as analogies for the duality of life, noting "as in the berry patch, it seems the sweetness is there for the taking as long as one doesn't get too careless."

This artwork was acquired for the State Art Collection in partnership with Oak Harbor School District.

About the Artist

Seattle-based artist Steve Gardner creates relief and free-standing sculptures out of architectural terra cotta clay and other materials. His artworks often focus on the human figure, surface pattern, and a sense of story.
Gardner received his Bachelor of Arts degree in art and biology from St. Olaf College in Minnesota and his Master of Fine Arts degree in ceramics from Central Washington University in Ellensburg.