The Sculpture and Mural Decorations of the Exposition: A Pictorial Survey of the Art of the Panama-Pacific international expositionPerry, Stella G. S. (Stella George Stern)
General
The Sculpture and Mural Decorations of the Exposition: A Pictorial Survey of the Art of the Panama-Pacific international exposition
Perry, Stella G. S. (Stella George Stern)
Panama-Pacific International Exposition (1915 : San Francisco, Calif.); Sculpture, American
The fountain has a double significance. In the first aspect it records
the conquest by Energy of the labors of the Canal. In the second it
proclaims the approach of the Super-Energy of the future. Both
interpretations are detailed upon the following pages. On the globe
supporting the horseman are indicated the sun's course North and South
and the evolution of mankind from lower to higher forms of life. That of
the strenuous Western hemisphere is connoted by a bullman; the quiet
East by a cat-human. Great oceans and lesser waters revel in the
fountain-bowl. A garland of merfolk join globe to base with great
sculptural beauty.
Equestrian Group
Detail, Fountain of Energy
In the more obvious phase of the fountain's meaning, Energy, the Lord of
the Isthmian Way, rides grandly upon the earth, triumphing because of
the Canal so well achieved. His outstretched arms have severed the lands
and let the waters pass. Upon his mighty shoulders stand Fame and Glory,
heralding the coming of a conqueror. The second and more subtle
intention is nobly prophetic. Energy, the Power of the Future, the
Superman, approaches. Twin inspirations - of two sexes to denote the
dual nature of man - urge him onward. His hands point upward, contacting
human energy with Divine. It is interesting to note the steadiness of
the central figure, the sense of firmness, security, in spite of the
feeling of motion in the whole. This is largely due to the hold of the
feet upon the stirrups and the weight of the body in the saddle.
North Sea - Atlantic Ocean
Details, Fountain of Energy
The basin of the Fountain of Energy is devoted to the revel of the
waters. The genii of the four great oceans dominate the scene. They are
mounted upon cavorting marine monsters and surrounded by the smaller
waters, fearlessly playing, head-downwards, upon dolphins about to dive.
The Atlantic Ocean faces East; the Pacific, West; the North and South
Seas their appropriate quarters. The symbolic figures are designed to
interpret the spirit of the oceans they represent - the Atlantic, fine
and bright, upon her armored sword-fish; the Pacific, a beautiful,
graceful, happily brooding Oriental; the North Sea, finned and
glistening, strange and eerie; the South Sea, savage and tempestuous,
blowing a fitful blast. The lesser waters have a lighter quality. The
hair of the sea-spirits suggests seaweed and coral. From the mouths of
of the sea-chargers jets of water rise to meet the nimbus and rainbows
of the semi-spherical downpour of the main fountain.
Mermaid Fountain
Festival Hall, South Gardens
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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