Animals in Pools

Last updated
Animals in Pools
Downtown Portland 1.jpg
Depiction of a mother bear fishing for her two cubs, pictured on a snowy day in Portland, Oregon in 2003
Animals in Pools
ArtistGeorgia Gerber
Year1986 (1986)
TypeSculpture
Medium Bronze
Location Portland, Oregon, United States
Coordinates 45°31′08″N122°40′42″W / 45.518910°N 122.678241°W / 45.518910; -122.678241
OwnerCity of Portland and Multnomah County Public Art Collection courtesy of the Regional Arts & Culture Council

Animals in Pools is a series of fountains and bronze sculptures of Pacific Northwest animals, designed by American artist Georgia Gerber and located in Portland, Oregon, in the United States. The series was installed in 1986 as part of the renovations associated with construction of the MAX Light Rail. Funded by the Downtown Merchants Local Improvement District, TriMet and the United States Department of Transportation, the sculptures were presented as gifts to the city and remain part of the collection of the City of Portland and Multnomah County Public Art Collection courtesy of the Regional Arts & Culture Council.

Contents

Description and history

Animals in Pools is a series of ten trough-style fountains and twenty-five life size bronze sculptures of Pacific Northwest animals, designed by American artist Georgia Gerber and installed in 1986 as part of the renovations associated with MAX Light Rail construction. [1] [2] Funded by the Downtown Merchants Local Improvement District, TriMet and the United States Department of Transportation, the sculptures were presented as gifts to the city. [1] The pieces were installed on the block bounded by Southwest Yamhill and Morrison Streets and Southwest Fifth and Sixth Avenues in downtown Portland. [2] [3] Animals in Pools is in the collection of the City of Portland and Multnomah County Public Art Collection courtesy of the Regional Arts & Culture Council. [4]

Gerber described Animals in Pools as "art for the people", designed in a way that encourages interactivity and "[brings] a bit of Pacific Northwestern wildlife to downtown in a fun and unexpected way". [1] Depicted animals include a mother bear fishing for her two cubs, beavers, deer, ducks, otters, and sea lions. [5] [6] [7] The fountains run all day during the spring, summer and fall seasons. [2] [3]

Reception

According to the Regional Arts & Culture Council, which maintains the work, the animal sculptures "are some of the most beloved in the public art collection as can be seen by the many shiny spots resulting from years of petting and cuddling". [1]

See also

Related Research Articles

<i>Spanish–American War Soldiers Monument</i> Sculpture and war memorial in Portland, Oregon

The Spanish–American War Soldier's Monument, also known as the Spanish–American War Memorial or simply Soldiers Monument, is an outdoor sculpture and war memorial monument honoring the dead of the 2nd Oregon Volunteer Infantry Regiment of the Spanish–American War and Philippine–American War. The monument was created by American artist Douglas Tilden and located in Lownsdale Square, in the Plaza Blocks of downtown Portland, Oregon. It features a bronze statue on a marble pedestal and granite base. The monument is part of the City of Portland and Multnomah County Public Art Collection courtesy of the Regional Arts & Culture Council.

<i>Fountain for Company H</i> 1914 fountain and war memorial in Portland, Oregon

Fountain for Company H, also known as Second Oregon Company Volunteers, is a 1914 fountain and war memorial designed by John H. Beaver, installed in Portland, Oregon's Plaza Blocks, in the United States. Dedicated to the men of Company H of the 2nd Oregon Volunteer Infantry Regiment killed in service during the Spanish–American War, the limestone and bronze memorial was installed in Lownsdale Square in 1914. It is part of the City of Portland and Multnomah County Public Art Collection courtesy of the Regional Arts & Culture Council. The memorial has been included in published walking tours of Portland.

<i>Da Tung and Xian Bao Bao</i> Sculpture in Portland, Oregon, U.S.

Da Tung and Xi'an Bao Bao, is an outdoor 2002 bronze sculpture, located at the North Park Blocks in downtown Portland, Oregon, United States. The sculptor is unknown. It is part of the City of Portland and Multnomah County Public Art Collection courtesy of the Regional Arts & Culture Council.

<i>Ghost Ship</i> (sculpture) Sculpture in Portland, Oregon

Ghost Ship is an outdoor 2001 sculpture by James Harrison and Rigga, a group of local artists, located along the Eastbank Esplanade in Portland, Oregon. It is made of copper, stainless steel, art glass, and two lamps. It is part of the City of Portland and Multnomah County Public Art Collection courtesy of the Regional Arts & Culture Council.

<i>Little Prince</i> (sculpture) Sculpture in Portland, Oregon

Little Prince, also known as The Little Prince, is an outdoor 1995 copper and steel sculpture created by artist Ilan Averbuch, located in the Rose Quarter of Portland, Oregon. It is part of the City of Portland and Multnomah County Public Art Collection, courtesy of the Regional Arts & Culture Council.

<i>Echo Gate</i> Sculpture in Portland, Oregon

Echo Gate is an outdoor 2001 sculpture by Ean Eldred and the architectural firm Rigga, located along the Eastbank Esplanade in Portland, Oregon, United States. It was funded by the City of Portland Development Commission's Percent for Art program, and is part of the City of Portland and Multnomah County Public Art Collection courtesy of the Regional Arts & Culture Council.

<i>Running Horses</i> Sculpture in Portland, Oregon, U.S.

Running Horses is an outdoor 1986 bronze sculpture by Tom Hardy, located on the Transit Mall in downtown Portland, Oregon. It is part of the City of Portland and Multnomah County Public Art Collection courtesy of the Regional Arts & Culture Council.

<i>Ascension</i> (Calvo) Sculpture by Robert Calvo in Portland, Oregon, U.S.

Ascension is an outdoor 1996 sculpture by American artist Robert Calvo, located in downtown Portland, Oregon. It is part of the City of Portland and Multnomah County Public Art Collection courtesy of the Regional Arts & Culture Council.

<i>Sculpture Stage</i> Sculpture in Portland, Oregon

Sculpture Stage is an outdoor 1976 stainless steel sculpture by Bruce West, located in Tom McCall Waterfront Park in downtown Portland, Oregon. The work was funded by the Comprehensive Employment and Training Act and is part of the City of Portland and Multnomah County Public Art Collection courtesy of the Regional Arts & Culture Council.

<i>Untitled</i> (Killmaster) Sculpture by John Killmaster in Portland, Oregon, U.S.

Untitled is an outdoor 1977 steel and porcelain enamel sculpture by American artist John Killmaster, located in downtown Portland, Oregon. It is part of the City of Portland and Multnomah County Public Art Collection courtesy of the Regional Arts & Culture Council.

<i>Drivers Seat</i> (sculpture) Sculpture in Portland, Oregon, U.S.

Driver's Seat is a 1994 galvanized steel sculpture by Don Merkt, installed along the Transit Mall in Portland, Oregon's Old Town Chinatown neighborhood, in the United States. The artwork was funded by the City of Portland's Percent for Art program, the Portland Development Commission, and TriMet, and remains part of the City of Portland and Multnomah County Public Art Collection courtesy of the Regional Arts & Culture Council.

<i>118 Modules</i> Sculpture by American artist John Rogers

118 Modules is an outdoor 1979 sculpture by American artist John Rogers, located at the parking garage at Southwest Yamhill Street between Southwest 9th and 10th Avenues in downtown Portland, Oregon.

<i>Silver Dawn</i> Sculpture in Portland, Oregon

Silver Dawn is an outdoor 1980 stainless steel sculpture by Spanish American artist Manuel Izquierdo, installed at Wallace Park in northwest Portland, Oregon, in the United States.

<i>Upstream Downtown</i> Sculpture in Portland, Oregon

Upstream Downtown is an outdoor 1992 sculpture by American artist Gary Hirsch, installed along the exterior side of the parking garage at Southwest 3rd Avenue and Southwest Morrison Street in Portland, Oregon. The installation features a series of eighteen multi-colored fish sculptures made of aluminum, acrylic and enamel, each measuring 4 feet (1.2 m) x 12 feet (3.7 m). According to the Regional Arts & Culture Council, which administers the work, Hirsch said: "I intended the piece to serve as a whimsical analogy to downtown business life. It's frenetic, humorous story with each of us bustling against the stream to get what we want." It is part of the City of Portland and Multnomah County Public Art Collection courtesy of the Regional Arts & Culture Council.

<i>Frank E. Beach Memorial Fountain</i> 1975 stainless steel fountain and sculpture in Portland, Oregon

The Frank E. Beach Memorial Fountain, officially titled Water Sculpture, is an abstract 1975 stainless steel fountain and sculpture by artist Lee Kelly and architect James Howell, installed in Washington Park's International Rose Test Garden in Portland, Oregon. The memorial commemorates Frank E. Beach, who christened Portland the "City of Roses" and proposed the Rose Festival. It was commissioned by the Beach family and cost approximately $15,000. Previously administered by the Metropolitan Arts Commission, the work is now part of the City of Portland and Multnomah County Public Art Collection courtesy of the Regional Arts & Culture Council.

<i>City Reflections</i> Sculpture in Portland, Oregon, U.S.

City Reflections is an outdoor 2009 bronze sculpture by Patti Warashina, located in downtown Portland, Oregon.

<i>You Are Here</i> (sculpture) Sculpture in Portland, Oregon

You Are Here is an outdoor 2012 bronze sculpture by American artist Ron Baron, installed at Providence Park in Portland, Oregon, United States. It is part of the City of Portland and Multnomah County Public Art Collection courtesy of the Regional Arts & Culture Council, which administers the work.

<i>The Dreamer</i> (sculpture) Sculpture in Portland, Oregon

The Dreamer, or simply Dreamer, is an outdoor 1979 muntz bronze sculpture and fountain of a reclining woman by Manuel Izquierdo, installed at Pettygrove Park in Portland, Oregon, United States. It is part of the City of Portland and Multnomah County Public Art Collection courtesy of the Regional Arts & Culture Council, which administers the work.

<i>Floribunda</i> (sculpture) Sculpture in Portland, Oregon, U.S.

Floribunda is an outdoor 1998 bronze sculpture by American artist Mark Calderon, installed in Portland, Oregon, United States. It is part of the City of Portland and Multnomah County Public Art Collection courtesy of the Regional Arts & Culture Council, which administers the work.

<i>Continuation</i> (sculpture) Sculpture series in Portland, Oregon, U.S.

Continuation is an outdoor 2009 granite series of sculptures by Japanese artist Michihiro Kosuge, installed along Portland, Oregon's Transit Mall, in the United States. It is part of the City of Portland and Multnomah County Public Art Collection courtesy of the Regional Arts & Culture Council, which administers the work.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Public Art Search: Animals in Pools". Regional Arts & Culture Council. Archived from the original on January 6, 2014. Retrieved January 4, 2014.
  2. 1 2 3 "SW Portland". City of Portland. Archived from the original on September 25, 2013. Retrieved January 5, 2014.
  3. 1 2 "Fountains in Parks". City of Portland. Archived from the original on December 25, 2013. Retrieved January 5, 2014.
  4. "Animals in Pools, 1986". cultureNOW. Archived from the original on January 6, 2014. Retrieved January 4, 2014.
  5. Baskas, Harriet (January 6, 2010). Oregon Curiosities: Quirky Characters, Roadside Oddities, and Other Offbeat Stuff (2 ed.). Globe Pequot Press. p. 68. ISBN   9780762762019. Archived from the original on July 9, 2021. Retrieved January 4, 2014.
  6. "Animals in Pools, Portland". Yahoo! Travel. Archived from the original on January 6, 2014. Retrieved January 4, 2014.
  7. "#UglySweaterPDX Monumental Attire". Downtown Portland and the Downtown Marketing Initiative. Archived from the original on January 6, 2014. Retrieved January 4, 2014.