Artwork copyright Gloria Bornstein. Photo courtesy of the artist.

Artwork copyright Gloria Bornstein. Photo courtesy of the artist.

Artwork copyright Gloria Bornstein. Photo courtesy of the artist.

Artwork copyright Gloria Bornstein. Photo courtesy of the artist (detail).

Artwork copyright Gloria Bornstein. Photo courtesy of the artist (detail).

Artwork copyright Gloria Bornstein. Photo courtesy of the artist (detail).

From One to Z, 1998

Gloria Bornstein
American (born 1937, died 2024)

Location: Eastern Washington University, Cheney

About the Artwork

From One to Z is comprised of a group of small bronze sculptures. Artist Gloria Bornstein created them for Eastern Washington University as a celebration of human knowledge. Installed as stepping stones in a meandering stream-like fountain, the sculptures reference the basalt boulders formed during the great Spokane Floods thousands of years ago. She based the shapes on small clay tokens used for counting and trading in ancient Mesopotamia. She notes, “I find it remarkable that these once discarded artifacts illustrate the dynamic interaction between technology, cognitive skills, economy, mathematics, communication, and social structure in prehistory. They illustrate the development of sculpture and picturemaking as part of the public process.”

This artwork was acquired for the State Art Collection in partnership with Eastern Washington University.

About the Artist

Born in the Bronx, New York, Gloria Bornstein attended Hunter College in New York City and earned a Master of Arts degree in psychology from Antioch University in Seattle in 1979. She taught performance at Cornish College from 1979 to 1981 and sculpture and public art at the University of Washington from 1991 to 2005 (both in Seattle). She also practiced psychotherapy during that time.