Fountain of Time
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| This landmark sculptural fountain and reflecting basin is located at the west end of the Midway Plaisance in Washington Park. |
Your support is needed. Here is how you can help:
Vote for the Fountain of Time.
You can vote once daily from Sept. 6 through October 10.
One of the Nation's Most Significant Monuments
Completed in 1922, the Fountain of Time is the masterpiece of renowned Chicago sculptor Lorado Taft. This exquisite 127-feet long concrete sculpture includes a crag-like figure of Father Time, a procession of 100 human figures, and a reflecting pool between them. The work was inspired by poet Austin Dobson's Paradox of Time. Viewers are astounded by its beauty and affected by its theme of our own mortality.
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| Taft and his assistants sculpted a model of the sculpture in clay and made a plaster-mold composed of 4500 pieces. Concrete was poured into the mold in sections over a period of several months. | The basin was an important aspect of the monument not only because water is a symbol of life, but also because it allowed for dramatic reflections of the sculptural figures in the basin below. |
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| Sculptural figure before conservation | Same sculptural figure after conservation. Conservator Andrzej Dajnowski has been working on the monument since 1992. |
Conservation
Ironically, the 85-year-old concrete monument itself had suffered the ravages of time. Chicago's climate, and pollution along with poor repairs done years ago caused tremendous harm to this great artwork. Over the last fifteen years, a two million dollar project funded by Chicago Park District, Art Institute of Chicago, University of Chicago, a Save America's Treasures Grant and private donations have allowed for the monument's conservation. The conservation of the sculptural figures was undertaken between 1992 and 2001; however, the reflecting basin remained deteriorated, cracked, and inoperable until a major restoration project completed in the summer of 2007. Today there is water in the reflecting basin for the first time in over fifty years!
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| The Fountain of Time's reflecting basin has been completely restored and filled with water. |
Let There Be Lights!
As the final step in this multi-year and challenging conservation effort, it is imperative that appropriate monument lights be installed. The lights will provide dramatic night-time viewing and protect this valuable landmark from vandalism.
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| As the final step in completing the conservation of the Fountain of Time, a professional lighting design firm was hired to mock up the appropriate lighting scheme. After fund-raising is completed, lights will be installed in 2009. |
Partners in Preservation
We are now pleased to announce that American Express and the National Trust for Historic Preservation have selected the Fountain of Time as one of 25 sites to vie for $1 million for historic preservation efforts in a five-week on-line contest.
Please help us make this possiblye by voting once daily from Sept. 6 through October 10.
For more information see http://fountainoftime.blogspot.com