Electric Fountain
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The Electric Fountain is a water fountain with public art sculptures and evening lighting, surrounded by mosaic pavement, seating, and landscaping.[1] It is located in Beverly Gardens Park on the corner of Santa Monica and Wilshire Boulevards in Beverly Hills, California.[2]
The two-level circular fountain includes a circular raised fountain spray area surrounded by a 30-foot (9.1 m) diameter pool. It was designed by architect Ralph Carlin Flewelling in 1931, in partnership with sculptor Robert Merrell Gage, who created the center sculpture and bas relief.[3]
Public art components
The Electric Fountain contains several individual public art components. These components include sculpture, bas relief, mosaics, landscaping, and lighting program.[1]
Sculpture
Robert Merrell Gage placed the 6-foot (1.8 m) granite sculpture of a Tongva/Gabrieleno tribe member, kneeling in prayer, on a 20-foot (6.1 m) stone column. According to Peter James Holliday, the image was "said to be modeled after Gradin Newsom, who was part Cherokee".[4] The sculpture sits in the center of the smaller circular raised fountain.
Bas relief
The sides of the circular raised stone fountain are carved with 3-foot (0.91 m) high bas relief sculptures by Robert Merrell Gage as a companion piece to the Tongva/Gabrieleno tribe member sculpture. The bas relief images depict scenes of the area's early history and development.[1]
Ceramic tile and mosaic pavement
The surrounding 30 foot (9.1 m) diameter pool is edged with ceramic tile. Terra cotta mosaic pavement tiles show images from the early history of the area and the founding of the city.[1]
Landscaping and lighting program
Landscaping and benches surround the pool and have been modified throughout the decades. The most recent addition to the Electric Fountain was the multi-colored nighttime lighting program for the pool, fountain, and sculpture. Installed in 2016, the lighting program made the Electric Fountain highly visible after dark.[1]