fountain great lakes fountain great lakes spirit great lakes fountain sculpture south loop community area chicago illinois united_states bronze work art created fountain depicts women arranged water flows way water passes great lakes note starts feet sea level continues eastward lake reaches lake ontario passes fountain best known works fountain originally installed facing south remained moved wing addition facing west sits today original location visible jackson michigan avenue intersection known route center south fountain commissioned fund surface references title relief sculpture rear panel hidden view fountain moved commission experienced funding delays additionally legal environment land use time commission caused delays location selection erected fountain received largely positive reviews critics questioned symbolism sculpture caught day regard laws related public art semi nude work background million charitable trust gift events funded fountain public works chicago city attempted determine policy fund use argued placed portrait bridges park entrances order create long lasting beauty addition supporting style art pursued september linked press fund possible recipient commission year began place greater emphasis sculpture classes taught simultaneously earlier fountain response complaint charged failed produce represented great natural resources west especially great lakes spring assigned students work entitled spirit great lakes women individual figures response assignment joined group imagined containers held mid january cast plaster version exhibited january end january displayed work annual local works exhibition gained support week display won sculpture award bust works won general excellence municipal art league exhibition decided form help satisfy public support work fund commission court released trustees commission trustees portrait commission additionally protected forever open clear free legislation affirmed aaron montgomery ward twice sued city chicago force remove buildings structures building new ones second suit pending legal cloud architectural limitations caused trustees remained silent sought wider public support publishing picture spirit great lakes drew interest buffalo new_york host final work february published cover image work describing anticipation obtaining work city end connections resolved commission october voted commission december signed contract commence work commission commission fund despite financial agreement time determination site work ward suit continued proposal locate south locate 35th street grand boulevard drive intersection hosts national_register_of_historic_places listed victory monument annual report mentioned proposal sunken garden focal fountain south institute legal issues land use intensified began modest plans fountain attached south wall building years little mention fountain focused work fountain model taken bronze casting designed base sculpture subsequently assembled mid august preparation september dedication date construction new wing fountain moved south facing position adjacent original building visible historic michigan boulevard district west wall new wing position facing westward sculpture positioned plaque reads fund maintaining enduring monuments longer better remembered books history american sculpture regarded comprehensive work subject title day known portraits public sculpture especially public fountain produced period following assignment design sculptures baron designed large scale public works including time dedication described commission fountain turning point career led increased publicity commissions growing recognition community combined encouragement commitment arts hoped mark new era civic mark beginning chicago school sculpture dream chicago universe bred world exposition years earlier fountain great lakes major career accomplishment propelled level critical response general opinion positive describing cultural achievement chicago detractors conceded composition ideal old world way critics voiced concern sculpture confusion basic problems critics symbolism artistic attractive bronze figures posed bodies water time discussion depictions representing relative elevations flows waters closer association figures lakes use physical features directional orientation definite general supporter artistic efforts disappointed lack representative geographic configuration lack spirit lakes inland seas respect specific piece gone ardent supporter felt model finding doubt work human form depictions lake failed capture imagery contemporary literature related power fury nature heroism struggling forces works representations lakes quiet water keeping general theme quiet dignity public sculpture day dedication expressed point fountain lake michigan fury got past symbolism ladies lakes complaints existed lack recognition contemporary form female representation art literature gone russell type gibson girl image apparently chosen packing house ladies female form presented live depictions sculptures women faced complaints compositions nude upper live representations fully clothed degree nudity public art sake nudity sake art contemporary issue involving confiscated fully nude painting roman_catholic_church critics art dealers collectors led amendment chicago municipal laws proposed mayor chicago passed months dedication partially nude fountain chicago_tribune writers stood fountain humor described streak adversely affect public art training lent sculpture claimed inspiration greek mythology ordered daughters kill husbands condemned delivering water vessel keeping penchant classical inspiration loose association number daughters reduced artist task nearly cruel mythological
Fountain of the Great Lakes