[61] As a result, the city has what are termed the Montgomery Ward height restrictions on buildings and structures in Grant Park. [23] Since water is the focus of a fountain, and since Chicago, and especially Millennium Park, is so greatly affected by the nearby waterfront, Plensa sought to create an eternal water work to complement the local natural inspirations. [1] The firm designed a special stainless steel T-frame both to bear the load of the walls, which are 50 feet (15 m) high, and to withstand lateral wind forces. [30] The subjects were chosen from local schools, churches and community groups, and filming began in 2001 at the downtown campus of the School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC). [41] The physical demands of LED screens, in particular the red, green, and blue long-life light bulbs and the requisite circuitry, created three major challenges: supporting the physical structure, combating heat buildup, and optimizing perceptibility of the display. [2] A Barco show controller selects the sequence of faces one at a time and determines a random tower lighting selection of one of eight LED colors programmed into an Electronic Theatre Controls (ETC) Emphasis control system. These other Chicago fountains are traditional in that they discourage viewer touching; Buckingham Fountain is surrounded by a fence, and Taft's fountains are surrounded by moats. [7] The Financial Times refers to the fountain as a "techno-fountain". Conçue et réalisée par l'artiste catalan Jaume Plensa, elle a … The emphasis is always on communication, conversation and interaction - the purpose of a meeting place. [52], The front face of each tower is animated with a continuous, dynamic exhibit of lights and electronic images. Plensa provides this opportunity through the very thin layer of water that covers the plaza area between and surrounding the towers. [18], The Crown family, for whom the fountain is named, donated $10 million of the $17 million construction and design cost. Crown Fountain is an interactive work of public art and video sculpture featured in Chicago's Millennium Park, which is located in the Loop community area. Rods measuring 0.5 inches (13 mm) in diameter anchor to the structure and project into the frame for lateral stability, while triangular corner brackets add support. The heat generated is handled by fans that cool the air at the bottom, that then works its way through the chimney-like tower. [25][18] Nonetheless, in some case, digital manipulation was necessary to properly simulate puckering in the exact proper location on the video. [48][49], The control center for the synchronization of images, water flow, and lighting color and intensity is beneath one of the towers, in a room that covers 550 square feet (51 m2). [51] Typically, the fountain's water features function between mid-spring and mid-fall, but the images remain on the screen year-round. [17] His presentation included computer animation of facial expressions. At night, some of the videos are replaced by images of nature or solid colors. In contrast, Crown Fountain provides an open invitation to play in the fountain's water. [18] Images are shown daily year-round, while the water feature only operates from May 1 to approximately October 31,[4] weather permitting. What is a fountain? Each block is 5 by 10 by 2 inches (127 by 254 by 51 mm) with glass thin enough to avoid image distortion. Although Plensa is considered to be a conceptual artist, according to Jodidio, Plensa created a work whose architectural aspects are paramount. Public art was a departure from Krueck & Sexton's residential and corporate office-dominated portfolio, which includes buildings like the Spertus Institute. [citation needed]Works. [30], To achieve the effect in which water appears to be flowing from subjects' mouths, each video has a segment where the subject's lips are puckered, which is then timed to correspond to the spouting water, reminiscent of gargoyle fountains. Public Space Constructed between 1999 and 2004 with support from the Crown Foundation, this work features water cascading down two monumental towers, as well as video and lighting effects. While some of the videos displayed are of scenery, most attention has focused on its video clips of local residents. Opera and Theater Resume: The Crown Fountain, designed by Spanish artist Jaume Plensa, is an extremely unique tribute to the people of Chicago. [11], After two architectural firms refused the contract to make Plensa's design a reality, the firm Krueck and Sexton Architects accepted. Designed by Spanish artist Jaume Plensa, the Crown Fountain in Millennium Park is a major addition to the city's world-renowned public art collection. This is followed by a section, in which the water appears to spout from the open mouth, that is stretched to last for 30 seconds. [25], The spouting water from the faces of the towers appears to be flowing from the displayed subject's mouth from a 6-inch (150 mm) nozzle located in the center of each interior face 12 feet (3.7 m) above the reflecting pool. ... Crown Fountain, Jaume Plensa. [10], Approximately 75 ethnic, social, and religious Chicago organizations were asked to provide candidates whose faces would be photographed for integration into the fountain. [3] Also at night, the other three sides of the fountain display changing colors. [16] Jaume Plensa researched the traditions and history of fountains and studied anthropomorphism in fountain imagery. (mit Texten von Keith Patrick und Illustrationen von Keneth Tanaka.) [3] The LED structure is not supported as a single wall (which would be 50 feet (15 m) high), but rather as several segments that are noticeable as visible horizontal bands every few feet: these show where the LED equipment is supported. Plensa focused on the philosophical meanings associated with fountains, their history, use and art. It made Plensa a household name in the city. Group Exhibitions Plensa feels that by using faces, he can represent … The room houses high-definition video servers and equipment temperature sensors. La fontana è composta da uno specchio d'acqua in granito nero posto tra due torri in vetrocemento. [1] Although the screens on the towers periodically display clips of landscapes such as waterfalls, most intriguing are the display of faces of Chicago residents. [50] In 2014, an additional 1000 faces were anticipated for 2016. Trouvez les Jaume Plensa Crown Fountain images et les photos d’actualités parfaites sur Getty Images. Constructed between 1999 and 2004 with support from the Crown Foundation, this work features water cascading down two monumental towers, as well as video and lighting effects. Fins were added to the screens to keep direct sunlight from hitting the LEDs. Furthering this sensation are images of nature interspersed among the faces of people. [24] Many of the faces had to be stretched in order to get the mouths properly positioned. Sombras y textos. Jaume Plensa est un sculpteur et graveur contemporain espagnol de Designed by Spanish artist Jaume Plensa and executed by Krueck and Sexton Architects, it opened in July 2004. einem öffentlichen Brunnen befindliche Kunst- und Video-Skulptur However, the fountain has survived its contentious beginnings to find its way into Chicago pop culture. Shen, Milson & Wilke, screen technology, School of the Art Institute of Chicago, image content production, W.E. Using low- rather than high-resolution images was both less expensive and created a better display for the average viewer. [65] The Chicago Tribune quickly published an article concerning the cameras as well as the public reaction, and the cameras were removed the next day. Plensa was born in Barcelona, Catalonia and studied art there, in the "Llotja" School and in the Escola Superior de Belles Arts de Sant Jordi. [18] The other finalists were Maya Lin, who presented a low-height horizontal form, and Robert Venturi, who presented a fountain that would have been 150 feet (46 m) tall. [47], The fountain is featured on the cover of Philip Jodidio's 2005 book, Architecture: Art. [31] Originally, Plensa had planned to have each face appear for 13 minutes,[18] and this continued to be the targeted duration when the testing of the sculpture occurred. Press PDF. [2] Two essential custom fittings contribute to the artistic vision of the fountain: a custom glass block at the upper edge for guiding the water's descent while remaining unobtrusive, and a plastic nozzle fitted to the stainless steel frame to control the rate of water flow and reduce liability to the city for any injuries sustained by the fountain's interactive participants. About 1,000 faces of Chicagoans are shown in a random rotation,[2] the order determined using a Barco show controller. I have always maintained that sculpture has more to do with time than with such secondary problems as scale or space. [18] Because the image proportions were like a movie screen with a width far exceeding its height, the camera was turned on its side during filming. [23] The fountain is known for encouraging its visitors to splash and slide in the reflecting pool, jostle for position under the water spout and place themselves under the cascade. This big unconventional sculpture, which is formed by two vertical towers with LED screens, marked a decisive turning point in Plensa’s career. [1] His representation has become a part of the city's pop culture; the first few episodes of the first season of Prison Break featured shots of the fountain. [18], Plensa's design of Crown Fountain was unveiled to the public on July 16–18, during the 2004 grand opening celebrations for Millennium Park. supposed to impact the lives of people from all walks of life. Looking north from the fountain, viewers see some of the tallest buildings in the United States (Aon Center, Two Prudential Plaza, and One Prudential Plaza). As a result, no more than 12 faces appear per hour during the summer. [20] The high-definition equipment was used because of the scale of the project. [57] Grant Park has been protected since 1836 by "forever open, clear and free" legislation that has been affirmed by four previous Illinois Supreme Court rulings. [22] In his public art, Plensa challenged himself to involve the viewer with his art, which led to his conception of the Crown Fountain. contemporary". The finished work begins it own cycle, and just like another memory it becomes linked to the vaster memory, in which no chronology makes sense. [36] The process used sand and soda ash heated to a temperature of 2,600 °F (1,430 °C) and "gathered" with a large clay ball resembling a honey dipper. La Fuente Crown es una obra interactiva de arte público y vídeoescultura radicada en el parque del Milenio de Chicago, localizado en el área comunitaria conocida como The Loop. Etchings The ability to truly walk on water is also among the thrilling elements of the design.