Electric Fountain
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The Electric Fountain is a water fountain with public art sculptures and evening lighting, surrounded by mosaic pavement, seating, and landscaping.[1] It is located in Beverly Gardens Park on the corner of Santa Monica and Wilshire Boulevards in Beverly Hills, California.[2]
The fountain
The two-level circular fountain includes a circular raised fountain spray area surrounded by a Script error: No such module "convert". diameter pool. It was designed by architect Ralph Carlin Flewelling in 1931, in partnership with sculptor Robert Merrell Gage, who created the center sculpture and bas relief.[3]
Public art components
The Electric Fountain contains several individual public art components. These components include sculpture, bas relief, mosaics, landscaping, and lighting program.[1]
Sculpture
Robert Merrell Gage placed the Script error: No such module "convert". granite sculpture of a Tongva/Gabrieleno tribe member, kneeling in prayer, on a Script error: No such module "convert". stone column. According to Peter James Holliday, the image was "said to be modeled after Gradin Newsom, who was part Cherokee".[4] The sculpture sits in the center of the smaller circular raised fountain.
Bas relief
The sides of the circular raised stone fountain are carved with Script error: No such module "convert". high bas relief sculptures by Robert Merrell Gage as a companion piece to the Tongva/Gabrieleno tribe member sculpture. The bas relief images depict scenes of the area's early history and development.[1]
Ceramic tile and mosaic pavement
The surrounding Script error: No such module "convert". diameter pool is edged with ceramic tile. Terra cotta mosaic pavement tiles show images from the early history of the area and the founding of the city.[1]
Landscaping and lighting program
Landscaping and benches surround the pool and have been modified throughout the decades. The most recent addition to the Electric Fountain was the multi-colored nighttime lighting program for the pool, fountain, and sculpture. Installed in 2016, the lighting program made the Electric Fountain highly visible after dark.[1]
History
The fountain was a gift to the City of Beverly Hills from Sarah Elizabeth (Fraser) Lloyd, mother of silent-screen actor Harold Lloyd in 1931, and the original installation was funded by the Beverly Hills Women's Club.[3] It was built on land donated by the Rodeo Land and Water Company.[5]
In 2014-2015, Chinese businessman Wang Jianlin donated US$200,000 for the restoration of the fountain,[6] and in 2016 the fountain, sculptures, and surrounding public space received a major restoration and renovation.
It was featured in the 1995 movie Clueless[7] and The Go-Go's 1981 music video for "Our Lips Are Sealed".[8]
See also
- Beverly Hills - 20th Century
References
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- ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
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- ↑ Wanamaker, Marc. Beverly Hills: 1930-2005, Mount Pleasant, South Carolina: Arcadia Publishing, p. 9
- ↑ City to Honor Wanda Group For Generous Fountain Restoration Gift Template:Webarchive, The Beverly Hills Courier, March 23, 2015
- ↑ Seeing Stars: Beverly Gardens Park Template:Webarchive
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
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- Pages with script errors
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- Fountains in California
- Culture of Beverly Hills, California
- Buildings and structures in Beverly Hills, California
- 1931 sculptures
- Concrete sculptures in California
- Terracotta sculptures in the United States
- 1931 establishments in California
- Sculptures of Native Americans in California