Ayzengart Uses Toothpicks to Craft Works of Art

Unclogging saltshakers, testing baked goods, and picking up cheese cubes play second fiddle to art created by Yakov Ayzengart, who uses toothpicks “in great numbers” to craft detailed art, objects, and scenes.

A Holocaust survivor approaching his 90th birthday, Ayzengart parlayed his skills as a mechanical engineer to run with the notion of making toothpick bridges, springing from his grandson’s Fernbank Science Center program two decades ago. Since then, his art has evolved into Judaica and other forms of whimsy, one “pick” at a time.

Ayzengart graduated from high school and college in Moldova (in the former USSR) where he was known for his sharp skills in math, science, and geometry. His father served in the Soviet Army and was killed on the battlefield during the first months of war. Ayzengart was raised with his brother by their mother, who was a strong and determined woman.

Despite all the financial challenges and other backbreaking limitations, education was always a family priority. Ayzengart attended one of the best schools and graduated from college with a degree in mechanical engineering. Before immigrating to the United States, he worked as a mechanical engineer for one of the largest state-run agricultural firms.

From an early age, Ayzengart expressed an interest in woodworking and became proficient in understanding the function of related tools. His daughter, Marina Zalmanova, recalled, “Even back then, his hobby was working with wood, from carving to wood burning. He didn’t do any other artwork besides that, but he is a good handyman. He has a talent to fix anything. He also actually had an elaborate stamp collection which he brought to the U.S. as a hobby.”

Zalmanova’s son was enrolled in a program at Fernbank, led by an educator who also trained astronauts at Georgia Tech. According to Zalmanova, “They built bridges out of toothpicks and participated in various competitions. My father loved the idea, and after his retirement spent a lot of time designing and building.”

Ayzengart may take months to complete one project, depending on its size and complexity. Patience is another of his virtues.  He creates the template, committing all the calculations on paper first and uses Elmer’s wood glue to delicately attach the elements together. All the projects are unique, three-dimensional, ranging from six inches to a few feet in length. Some are mobile. He specializes in models of different bridges, including one in Atlanta. He also constructs models of shuttles, airplanes, helicopters, tanks, World War II memorials, buildings, dreidels, menorahs, clocks, and vases.

Ayzengart does not yet sell his pieces. He gives them away as gifts to his friends for celebrations and occasions, even his doctors, as an expression of gratitude. Many of his projects are on display at the Medside Adult Care Center, Congregation Ariel, and Jewish Family & Career Services, including the front entrance.

Besides designing and building toothpick projects, Ayzengart writes sketches, scripts, and plays at Medside and participates in the performances. He is not aware of any local artists who are “glued” to this medium but belongs to a Facebook group of like-minded artists.

Ayzengart concluded, “I will continue to build more new and innovative models, depending on my inspiration. This is now my passion.”