Sutphin Fountain
Encyclopedia
The Sutphin Fountain is a built environment located at the Indianapolis Museum of Art
(IMA), which is near downtown Indianapolis
, Indiana
. The granite and concrete fountain was designed by Stuart O. Dawson of Sasaki, Dawson, DeMay Associates, Inc. (now Sasaki Associates) in 1972.
Its large circular basin contains a poured concrete platform upon which sit 352 blocks of handcrafted, white granite of varying sizes, some weighing over a ton. Each block is flat on top and narrow, vertical ridges have been carved into the sides. The platform is raised slightly higher than ground level, and slopes slightly upward towards the center. A drainage basin surrounds the platform and serves as a barrier for the garden.
In the center of the platform 27 high-powered jets of water are fed from a central pipe and spray straight up into the air at a height anywhere between eight and 15 feet. Approximately 10,000 gallons of water are pumped through the jets every minute.
Color-shifting LED lights illuminate the column of water at night, and colorful lights are also installed underneath the ledge of the platform.
The original incarnation of the fountain had 448 blocks of Indiana limestone
, a limestone rim surrounding the central platform, and 22 floodlights which lit the fountain from within the column of water at night.
First located at the bottom of the steps leading up to the IMA’s main entrance, the Sutphin Fountain was the visual focal point of the front view of the museum complex. Its design was intended to recall the age-old sunburst
design and also suggest the layout of Indianapolis, sometimes called the “circle city.”
The IMA’s logo for its first few decades was a simplified version of an aerial view of the fountain.
When the IMA reopened in 2005 following its major renovation, the role of the Sutphin Fountain was altered. Where it used to be a stark gateway to the museum, it now was nestled in a more landscaped setting – although still prominently visible from the main entrance. It is now comfortably situated between the museum café’s outdoor seating and the Sutphin Mall, an allée-style sculpture yard which contains some of the IMA’s most well-known outdoor artworks.
In 2009 the floodlights within the fountain were replaced with LED lighting
. Seventeen different hues can be seen as the colors rotate at night, and specific color cycle requests may be displayed during special events.
The fountain was officially accessioned into the IMA's non-art collection in 2003.
and urban designer with Sasaki Associates, formerly Sasaki, Dawson, DeMay Associates, Inc. He has contributed to numerous local and international design projects and has won multiple awards for his work.
from China
was chosen as the replacement material, being a much more durable stone. Granite is also much heavier than limestone, so the foundation was recast to withstand the additional pressure. The rim of worn limestone which edged the platform was removed. With these improvements, the lifespan of the fountain was expected to gain several decades. A rededication took place following the renovation in December 1998.
Indianapolis Museum of Art
The Indianapolis Museum of Art is an encyclopedic art museum located in Indianapolis, Indiana, United States. The museum, which underwent a $74 million expansion in 2005, is located on a campus on the near northwest area outside downtown Indianapolis, northwest of Crown Hill Cemetery.The...
(IMA), which is near downtown Indianapolis
Indianapolis
Indianapolis is the capital of the U.S. state of Indiana, and the county seat of Marion County, Indiana. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city's population is 839,489. It is by far Indiana's largest city and, as of the 2010 U.S...
, Indiana
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
. The granite and concrete fountain was designed by Stuart O. Dawson of Sasaki, Dawson, DeMay Associates, Inc. (now Sasaki Associates) in 1972.
Description
The Sutphin Fountain is a year-round fountain located just north of the IMA’s main entrance, heading off the stretch of landscaping called the Sutphin Mall.Its large circular basin contains a poured concrete platform upon which sit 352 blocks of handcrafted, white granite of varying sizes, some weighing over a ton. Each block is flat on top and narrow, vertical ridges have been carved into the sides. The platform is raised slightly higher than ground level, and slopes slightly upward towards the center. A drainage basin surrounds the platform and serves as a barrier for the garden.
In the center of the platform 27 high-powered jets of water are fed from a central pipe and spray straight up into the air at a height anywhere between eight and 15 feet. Approximately 10,000 gallons of water are pumped through the jets every minute.
Color-shifting LED lights illuminate the column of water at night, and colorful lights are also installed underneath the ledge of the platform.
Historical information
The Sutphin Fountain was made following the IMA’s move from 16th to 38th Street. It was completed in 1972 in celebration of the IMA’s second birthday at its new location. The museum held an open dedication ceremony in October of 1972, complete with a brass band, fireworks, and ballerinas who danced across the fountain itself. At the moment of unveiling, the fountain sent one narrow jet of water 50 feet into the air.The original incarnation of the fountain had 448 blocks of Indiana limestone
Limestone
Limestone is a sedimentary rock composed largely of the minerals calcite and aragonite, which are different crystal forms of calcium carbonate . Many limestones are composed from skeletal fragments of marine organisms such as coral or foraminifera....
, a limestone rim surrounding the central platform, and 22 floodlights which lit the fountain from within the column of water at night.
First located at the bottom of the steps leading up to the IMA’s main entrance, the Sutphin Fountain was the visual focal point of the front view of the museum complex. Its design was intended to recall the age-old sunburst
Sunburst
Sunburst is a type of finish for musical instruments such as electric and acoustic guitars and electric basses. At the center of a sunburst-finished surface is an area of lighter color that darkens gradually towards the edges before hitting a dark rim...
design and also suggest the layout of Indianapolis, sometimes called the “circle city.”
Indianapolis
Indianapolis is the capital of the U.S. state of Indiana, and the county seat of Marion County, Indiana. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city's population is 839,489. It is by far Indiana's largest city and, as of the 2010 U.S...
The IMA’s logo for its first few decades was a simplified version of an aerial view of the fountain.
When the IMA reopened in 2005 following its major renovation, the role of the Sutphin Fountain was altered. Where it used to be a stark gateway to the museum, it now was nestled in a more landscaped setting – although still prominently visible from the main entrance. It is now comfortably situated between the museum café’s outdoor seating and the Sutphin Mall, an allée-style sculpture yard which contains some of the IMA’s most well-known outdoor artworks.
In 2009 the floodlights within the fountain were replaced with LED lighting
LEd
LEd is a TeX/LaTeX editing software working under Microsoft Windows. It is a freeware product....
. Seventeen different hues can be seen as the colors rotate at night, and specific color cycle requests may be displayed during special events.
Acquisition
The Sutphin Fountain is dedicated in memory of Samuel Brady Sutphin.The fountain was officially accessioned into the IMA's non-art collection in 2003.
Designer
Stuart O. Dawson is a prominent landscape architectLandscape architect
A landscape architect is a person involved in the planning, design and sometimes direction of a landscape, garden, or distinct space. The professional practice is known as landscape architecture....
and urban designer with Sasaki Associates, formerly Sasaki, Dawson, DeMay Associates, Inc. He has contributed to numerous local and international design projects and has won multiple awards for his work.
Condition
Because of the soft nature of limestone, the fountain eventually had to be renovated to replace the existing blocks which by 1998 had worn away to the point of being at risk of sliding. A limestone-colored type of graniteGranite
Granite is a common and widely occurring type of intrusive, felsic, igneous rock. Granite usually has a medium- to coarse-grained texture. Occasionally some individual crystals are larger than the groundmass, in which case the texture is known as porphyritic. A granitic rock with a porphyritic...
from China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
was chosen as the replacement material, being a much more durable stone. Granite is also much heavier than limestone, so the foundation was recast to withstand the additional pressure. The rim of worn limestone which edged the platform was removed. With these improvements, the lifespan of the fountain was expected to gain several decades. A rededication took place following the renovation in December 1998.