About Cadobaz Estate
Cadobaz is as a place to gather and create precious moments of friendship and good will, moments to stimulate the mind, the senses and the soul.
Cadobaz is a celebration of beauty, and its creation availed itself of the splendor of nature. The spectacular setting, the lake, the trees and the stars, offered an irresistible canvas to our eager palette.
In 2006, a party at my house brought one hundred and twenty of my good friends to celebrate my fiftieth birthday, and commemorate the resolution of a conflict where commitment, resilience and resolve triumphed over adversity. That party ignited the concept of Cadobaz. Many more friends would come, I thought, hundreds, perhaps thousands. We would share our passion for togetherness, for entertainment, for culture and the arts. Design and construction began immediately. Two years later, we hosted our first major event:
Cadobaz derives its name from its location: CADwallader Sonk Rd, Of BAZetta, OH. Fortuitously, CAD proved a perfect acronym for its intended purpose: Culture, Arts and Dining.
Cadobaz became the home of the Avamar Foundation, which was founded shortly thereafter and whose mission it has been to help the needy elderly pay for prescription medication. We have since organized an annual gala, "An Evening Under the Stars ", which has brought many guests from our community and from distant localities. The memories created during those events are indelible. (avamarfoundation.org)
(A)Lady Kindness
Lady Kindness was conceived six years ago, amidst strife and division in our country and in the world, and its execution spanned the years of the COVID pandemic, deepened our wounds. Time may not, but kindness will, heal all wounds! Kindness is boundless and powerful. Lady Kindness offers a rose, symbol of love, to each and every one, but especially to the neglected, the abandoned, the forgotten.
Lady Kindness is designed in Hellenistic grandeur, its floral detail fashioned in art-deco style. It is entirely built of white Carrara marble, weighing nearly 80 tons. It is robotically carved and hand polished. With its Corinthian pedestal, it stands tall at 29.3 feet. It is, to our knowledge, the largest ever robotically carved marble sculpture. To our knowledge, it is also the tallest freestanding marble sculpture in America. It is constructed to brave the Ohio weather and destined to dwell under the firmament.
Having communicated my vision to stone carver Dale Johnson of Sunbury, OH, he molded the model in clay, while portraitist Laura Bush sculpted the face. Subsequently, the team from Garfagnana Innovazione scanned the model, sourced the marble and milled it. It was eventually erected at Cadobaz in November 2023.
The technology of robotic stone carving is relatively new. It was featured in the December 2023 issue of Smithsonian magazine. A breakthrough development, it may supplant manual carving in years to come.
(B)The Bridge to Kindness
Based on a design idea which I submitted, the Bridge to Kindness was developed by architects David Harris, Will Rich and Nick Greenaway. It provides access to the island, with grace and elegance.
An act of kindness does not have to be elegant or graceful. The essence of kindness is that it does not discriminate. It is unsolicited and unmerited. In that respect, it mirrors God's grace.
(C) The Serenity Building
Serenity was designed as a backdrop to Lady Kindness while, at the same time, providing a unique panoramic view of Cadobaz with its various components. The reflection of its curved and tilted front glass wall in the lake is stunning. It features a burlwood walnut bar with a taupe and gray granite top and carved white marble ornaments.
It seats up to 25 guests and will be available for a large party on August 17th.
(D) Overcoming Adversity
Inspired by life events, with which many can identify, the sculpture depicts a woman who shatters the mountain and comes through victorious. She marches forward, smiling and serene, unhampered by bitterness or rancor, with no desire for recrimination or revenge.
This piece was originally intended as a bas-relief, but later revised to be a freestanding sculpture. Commissioned to Dale Johnson, it is carved in Indiana buff limestone. It was completed in 2022. With its pedestal it is over 10 feet in height.
(E) Cadobaz "logo" sculpture
"Cadobaz " the sculpture is a stylized version of the Cadobaz logo, which I originally designed in 2007. It was commissioned to Dale Johnson and is carved in Indiana gray limestone. It pivots on its base. With its pedestal, it is 10 feet in height.
A sculpture in stone projects permanence. Cadobaz will hopefully remain true to its original intent in generations to come.
(F) The Grand Patio
The Grand Patio is an open-air theater, paved with flagstone from New York State, with an outdoor kitchen, a bar and nearby restroom facilities. It accommodates 500 guests. The stage has the lake as its backdrop, flanked by tall northern Appalachian hardwoods: a magical view!
(G) The French Garden
A white granite-top table for eight on a sparkling midnight blue granite floor, surrounded by bushes and flowers. A prime location for viewing, it will be available on August 17th.
(H) The Pavilion
The pavilion exists for the discriminating taste of those who seek beautiful surroundings. Its decorative theme is an interplay of maple wood, with red and white marble, its walls adorned by paintings of the late Yarek Godfrey (1957-2014).
The structure involved the collaborative effort of many local artists and artisans and was completed in 2008. The bar is both sumptuous and delicate, and the conference table features the Cadobaz logo in inlaid marble. The exquisite corner table, made of red and white marble, was carved by Jean-Pierre Jacquet, who also carved the border of the bar.
The pavilion comfortably accommodates 40 to 50 guests and will be available for a large party on August 17th.
(I) The Starburst Room
The Starburst Room, whose marble and onyx floor features a star with seven branches, hosts a yearly art exhibit, honoring certain artists or helping to promote them. The exhibit extends into the adjoining garden. Proceeds from the sale of art benefits the Foundation
(J) The Coffee Bar
In recess of other amenities and shielded by a retaining wall, the coffee bar is built on the lake, offering a magnificent view of nature. It is a blend of Mediterranean styles: Moroccan furniture, Italian flowerpots, and a wall of Arabic ceramic art, handmade and painted by ceramic artist Scott Pergande (1961-2021).