Crown Fountain

Crown Fountain
Crown Fountain spouting water on visitors
ArtistJaume Plensa
Year2004
Typeblack granite reflecting pool
dual LED screen, glass brick sculptures
Dimensions15 m (50 ft)
LocationMillennium Park, Chicago, Illinois

Crown Fountain (sometimes known as the "Squirting Faces") is an interactive work of public art and video sculpture featured in Chicago's Millennium Park, which is located in the Loop community area. Designed by Spanish artist Jaume Plensa and executed by Krueck and Sexton Architects, it opened in July 2004.[1][2] The fountain is composed of a black granite reflecting pool placed between a pair of glass brick towers. The towers are 50 feet (15.2 m) tall,[1] and they use light-emitting diodes (LEDs) to display digital videos on their inward faces. Construction and design of the Crown Fountain cost $17 million.[3] The water operates from May to October,[4] intermittently cascading down the two towers and spouting through a nozzle on each tower's front face.

Residents and critics have praised the fountain for its artistic and entertainment features.[5][6][7] It highlights Plensa's themes of dualism, light, and water, extending the use of video technology from his prior works.[8] Its use of water is unique among Chicago's many fountains, in that it promotes physical interaction between the public and the water. Both the fountain and Millennium Park are highly accessible because of their universal design.[9]

Crown Fountain has been one of the most controversial of all the Millennium Park features. Before it was even built, some were concerned that the sculpture's height violated the aesthetic tradition of the park. After construction, surveillance cameras were installed atop the fountain, which led to a public outcry (and their quick removal).

However, the fountain has survived its contentious beginnings to find its way into Chicago pop culture. It is a popular subject for photographers and a common gathering place. While some of the videos displayed are of scenery, most attention has focused on its video clips of local residents. The fountain is a public play area and offers people an escape from summer heat, allowing children to frolic in the fountain's water.[10]

  1. ^ a b "Artropolis". Merchandise Mart Properties, Inc. 2007. Archived from the original on November 5, 2007. Retrieved June 13, 2007.
  2. ^ "Crown Fountain". Archi•Tech. Stamats Business Media. July–August 2005. Archived from the original on December 2, 2006. Retrieved June 13, 2007.
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference CsCFuLlad was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ "Frequently Asked Questions". City of Chicago. Archived from the original on March 7, 2009. Retrieved June 8, 2008.
  5. ^ Kamin, Blair (July 18, 2004). "Crown Fountain—***1/2*—Monroe Drive and Michigan Avenue—Jaume Plensa, Barcelona with Krueck & Sexton Architects, Chicago". Chicago Tribune. Newsbank. Retrieved July 25, 2008.
  6. ^ Nance, Kevin (July 12, 2004). "Walking on the water—Artist Jaume Plensa reinvents the fountain for the 21st century". Chicago Sun-Times. Newsbank. Retrieved July 25, 2008.
  7. ^ Cite error: The named reference CarNoosrcbapc was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  8. ^ Cite error: The named reference G288 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  9. ^ Cite error: The named reference PVA was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  10. ^ Cite error: The named reference NSaHHTD was invoked but never defined (see the help page).