Delaware Valley University recently unveiled a new sculpture by internationally recognized artist Steve Tobin, an homage to veterans that beautifies the landscape in the university’s Garden of Optimism.
Entitled “Swords to Plowshares,” the sculpture was donated by Sam and Max Wechsler, and dedicated in the name of their father Jay Wechsler, a U.S. Navy veteran who passed away in December 2022. DelVal dedicated the sculpture during a ceremony on Veterans Day.
“Delaware Valley University has been an important part of my family’s life for many years,” said Sam Wechsler. “This piece serves as a profound statement on behalf of veterans and offers an opportunity for students and campus visitors to reflect on the contributions and sacrifices of those who serve.”
As a child, Wechsler visited the DelVal campus with his father and brother Max to feed the fish and ducks. They regularly attended university events as a family, carrying on a legacy set by Wechsler’s grandmother, who visited the campus frequently in the 1920s to attend dances.
The 5,000-pound sculpture sits on the south campus, overlooking the school’s fields, pastures, barns, and greenhouses. It is adjacent to “The Garden of Optimism,” a newly landscaped garden created by DelVal student Chris Knauss under the direction of a faculty member. The garden was designed to hold interest and beauty in every season and serve as a tangible example of the ways DelVal students learn. DelVal officials said, “the sculpture and its location represent an area of growth and a look into to the future of Delaware Valley University.”
Tobin, a well-known sculptor who lives and works in Bucks County, creates art sculpted from glass, bronze, steel, and clay. He designed “Swords to Plowshares” in the shape of an igloo, fashioned from the windows of an M60 Patton combat tank. The sculpture draws inspiration from nature and allows viewers an opportunity to climb inside to experience snapshots of the surrounding landscape. Tobin’s art has appeared in museums and collections around the world and featured in publications including Time, Newsweek, National Geographic, Smithsonian and The New York Times.