Shemanski Fountain

Shemanski Fountain
Shemanski Fountain in 2013
Map
ArtistCarl L. Linde
Year1926 (1926)
TypeFountain
MediumSandstone
DimensionsHeight: 144 in (3.7 m);
Diameter: 224 in (5.7 m)
LocationPortland, Oregon
Coordinates45°31′02″N 122°40′56″W / 45.517282°N 122.682144°W / 45.517282; -122.682144
OwnerCity of Portland
Rebecca at the Well
Rebecca at the Well
Detail of Rebecca at the Well in 2008
ArtistOliver L. Barrett
Year1928 (1928)
TypeSculpture
MediumBronze
SubjectRebecca
Dimensions42×18×14 in (107×46×36 cm)
LocationPortland, Oregon
OwnerCity of Portland and Multnomah County Public Art Collection courtesy of the Regional Arts & Culture Council

Shemanski Fountain, also known as Rebecca at the Well, is an outdoor fountain with a bronze sculpture, located in the South Park Blocks of downtown Portland, Oregon, in the United States.[1] The sandstone fountain was designed in 1925, completed in 1926, and named after Joseph Shemanski, a Polish immigrant and businessman who gave it to the city. Carl L. Linde designed the trefoil, which features a statue designed by Oliver L. Barrett. The sculpture, which was added to the fountain in 1928, depicts the biblical personage Rebecca. Shemanski Fountain includes two drinking platforms with three basins each, with one platform intended for use by dogs.

The fountain underwent major renovations between 1987 and 1988 and in 2004. It has been vandalized on several occasions and has been used as a reference point for gatherings. It has also been included in public art guides and walking tours of Portland. According to "cultureNOW", the statue Rebecca at the Well is part of the City of Portland and Multnomah County Public Art Collection courtesy of the Regional Arts & Culture Council—the agency that maintains the sculpture.[2][3] The fountain surrounding the statue, often considered part of the artwork, is maintained by the Portland Water Bureau with assistance from the Regional Arts & Culture Council.[3]

  1. ^ "SW Portland". Portland Parks & Recreation. Archived from the original on September 25, 2013. Retrieved August 1, 2013.
  2. ^ "Rebecca at the Well (Shemanski Fountain), 1926". cultureNOW. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved August 1, 2013.
  3. ^ a b "Rebecca at the Well (Shemanski Fountain)". Regional Arts & Culture Council. Retrieved August 2, 2013.