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The Fruits of Knowledge – A Community Art & Story Contest

Inspired by Mirek Struzik’s new sculpture at Forest Green Branch Library — a tree of knowledge reimagined for our time. Now it’s your turn to imagine what grows from it.

Watch the video, see the sculpture and find out how to enter below.

Entries due Friday, October 16

The Sculpture

Rising from the library grounds, Fruits of Knowledge reimagines an idea as old as story itself — the tree of knowledge — as a living, glowing form. Its wire-mesh fruit lets daylight scatter through, and at dusk, colored light washes over the steel until the whole sculpture seems to turn a page into something fantastical.

It’s a symbol that runs through myth, science, and imagination — and now it’s part of your neighborhood. What story does it tell you? What would you draw, if this tree were the beginning of your own?

An organic, abstract reimagining of a motif as old as literature itself: the tree of knowledge, reborn at monumental scale. A fantastical sculpture draws on a symbol woven through human imagination from ancient myth to science fiction, transposing the intricate forms of nature from the microscopic to the architectural through biomimicry. Fabricated from stainless steel, the work catches and scatters daylight through its wire-mesh fruits, alive with transparency and movement.
At dusk, a dynamic RGB LED system transforms the sculpture entirely — colors wash over steel surfaces, and what was familiar becomes fantastical, as if a page had turned and the world stepped into the story.

Mirek Struzik, the artist

How to Enter

You can take on this contest two ways — write a story, make artwork, or both if you’re up for it.

Path One: Write a Story

Write an original story inspired by the sculpture, 750–900 words (about 2–4 pages). Written by you — no AI tools.

Send your story by email to forestgreenart@struzik-art.com

All stories will be exhibited in the library and published online for reading and public voting.

Path Two: Make Artwork

Create one piece of artwork inspired by the sculpture, A3 size, using any hand-made technique. No computer or AI work.

Bring it in person to Forest Green Branch Library.

All artworks will be displayed in the library during the exhibition.

Open to all school-age kids and teens.

Key Dates

Entries dueFriday, October 16
Exhibit opensOctober 26
Voting closesNovember 7
Winners announced~November 21

How Winners Are Chosen

Public Choice Award Everyone votes for their favorites — artwork in person at the library, stories online. Vote for as many entries as you like, one vote per person. The top 3 most-loved entries in each category win.

Artist’s Choice Award Artist Mirek Struzik personally selects one winner per category.

Prizes

  • A certificate for every award winner, presented by the artist
  • Featured on the artist’s official website, struzik-art.com
  • Every entry — story or artwork — gets published online
  • A chance to meet the artist live by video call at the awards event

Gallery

Sculpture photos for inspiration — daylight and dusk/lit views.

Meet the Artist

Mirek Struzik is the sculptor behind Fruits of Knowledge, permanently installed at Forest Green Branch Library as part of the City of Dallas Public Art Collection. He’ll personally choose the Artist’s Choice winners — and join the awards event live by video call to meet everyone who entered.

More about the artist →

Frequently Asked Questions

Who can enter? Any school-age kid or teen.

Can I enter both paths? Yes — write a story and make artwork if you’d like to.

Why no AI tools? This contest is about your own voice and your own hand — the story or artwork should be entirely your original work, without AI writing or image-generation tools.

Will my name be shown when my story or artwork is published? First name + last initial only for anyone under 18, with a parent/guardian consent step for online publication.

How do I vote? Story voting happens online — link below. Artwork voting happens in person at Forest Green Branch Library during the exhibition.

Vote for your favorite stories →

Presented By

Forest Green Branch Library & STRUZIK ART LTD

Questions?

Email us at forestgreenart@struzik-art.com

Struzik Art Ltd

Art in Public Space

Read more about Mirek Struzik - the artist behind the company:

About me


All images © Copyright Mirek Struzik. All rights reserved
Made with love in Germany by webfactor media GmbH