What a happy surprise to pass Capitol Mall recently and find water cascading down the fountain at 3rd and Capitol. This 45′ tall stainless steel fountain was created by David von Schlegell whose sculptures were very influenced by his time as an aircraft engineer for the US Air Force (1). Nautical and aeronautical themes emerged frequently in his work (2).
Unfortunately, most times I pass this way the fountain sits dry. It seems they turn it on when the school buses come full of children touring the Captiol area and the Crocker Art Museum. But you can experience the rush of the water over steel and the waves shimmering throughout the pool below in this video:
While it is sad to see the fountain dry most of the time, it is appropriate they turn it on when the children visit since a plaque nearby states that the fountain is dedicated to the Children of Sacramento:
The inspirational quote by Abraham Joshua Heschel (a leading Jewish theologian and philosopher of the 20th Century) reads:
…remember that the meaning of life is to build a life as if it were a work of art. Start working on this great work of art called your own existence. Remember the importance of self-discipline, study the great sources of wisdom and remember that life is a celebration…
One of von Schlegell’s most well-known pieces is a fountain in Pennsylvania, Voyage of Ulysses. The Philadelphia Public Art site has one of the best photos I could find of the fountain. The Fairmount Park Art Association site describes the relationship between the fountain and it’s title:
In basic shape Voyage of Ulysses resembles a sail, but its appearance varies from different perspectives. Hydraulic engineers helped von Schlegell produce dramatic effects with the water that tumbles against and through the sculpture. In the sculpture’s “duality of stillness and motion”—the fixed metal form combined with the flowing water—von Schlegell hoped that viewers would gain a sense of humankind’s “driving toward the unknown,” as Ulysses did in his storm-tossed ship.(3)
The fountain sits at the entrance of an 18-story office building sometime referred to as ‘Emerald Towers’ and sometimes as the ‘West America Bank Building’. In 2010, this building received LEED Gold certification which is the second-highest rating for existing buildings from the U.S. Green Building Council. (4). Local photographer, Phil Kampel, has a great photo of the fountain and building together.
One of the most interesting angles to view the fountain is from directly behind it. Note that it is designed so that the water that flows down on the other side of the main tower cannot be seen from this angle:
Unfortunately, my thumb made it into the photo without my realizing it. I’ve returned to re-take this photo but have yet to find the water running again.
Sac Metro Arts online gallery of Art in Public Places has a wonderful night view photo of the fountain.
A photo of the fountain reflected in the aqua-silver glass of the building:
Title: (untitled)
Artist: David Von Schlegell
Date: 1985
Media: Stainless Steel
Location: 300 Capitol Mall
View Pedestrian Art, Sacramento in a larger map
(1) Google Books preview page
(2) http://www.miamidade.gov/publicart/photo-mdc-van-schlegell.asp
(3) http://www.fpaa.org/child/map_100_sch_voy.html
(4) http://www.sacramentopress.com/headline/31152/300_Capitol_Mall_ecocertified