Fountain of Time CRWR

Story Arc:

A very interesting piece of non-fiction work could center of Lorado Taft’s two contrasting perspectives on sculpting. One the one hand, he was conservative in his attitude against some of the aspects of modern art – described further down – as outlined in his Modern Tendencies in Sculpture. On the other hand, Taft is considered a very liberal artist because of his encouragement for women sculptors to be involved in the Chicago World Fair of 1893 and because of his willingness to experiment with his sculpting methods. It seems as if Taft was so concerned with the meaning of a work of art by itself that he did not care about how it came about or how what its “role” was in society. Nothing else mattered for the work – the artist, the time-period, materials, or any other aspect of the piece – besides its actual thesis. Taft did not see any true meaning in most works of modern art and therefore was heavily against the movement. Perhaps it was the idea that in modern art, the meaning of the work comes less through the actual piece itself and more from the way it is presented. Most works of modern art are meant to shock the viewer with immediate clashing colors or sharp metal angles, leaving little room for thought afterwards. It is almost as if an artist who has created a work of modern art has done so not because he had a thesis in mind or because he wanted to convey his impression of a scene but solely because he is an artist and it is his job to create these astounding, meaning-gilded works that serve only as propaganda for the ushering in a modern mindset. Obviously, this does not apply to all modern art as some of the most philosophical and intellectual men of the 19th and 20th centuries started this movement but it has certainly been exploited.

The Fountain of Time plays perfectly into Taft’s split personality because it reflects both his conservative and liberal approaches to sculpting. The first “layer” of the fountain is conveyed through its title, Fountain of Time, and through the work it is based upon, Dobson’s Paradox of Time. This layer reflects man’s apprehension toward time’s inconsiderate tendency to progress without hesitation. Taft, living at the turn of the 20th century, is on the line between two different ages. He is, however, unwilling to move into the new era as mindlessly as some of the world around him has. Particularly, his biggest fear comes from the new age’s tendency to shun the intellectual aspect of art and focus more on its physical, shock-inducing side. Therefore, Taft could be seen as the subject of Dobson’s poem and of his own sculpture because he is having difficulty accepting that time will move on with or without his input.

The Fountain of Time also illustrates Taft’s progressive side because of his willingness to experiment with sculpting methods. Taft, for financial reasons, used concrete to build the Fountain of Time and it is considered to be the first finished work of art made from concrete. It is interesting to think that man who disliked modern art would also experiment with new sculpting methods. However, this makes sense if one considers that Taft was concerned with the thesis behind a work of art and not with how it came about. Essentially, Taft knew that the modern art movement was created uniquely out of the desire to get rid of previous traditions and to begin new ones. To him, though, this was a dangerous mindset because it was not something genuine: a work of modern art did not mean something in itself but only served to bring about change.

My story would focus around the notion of the need for change during the early 20th century and Taft’s reluctance to follow. A nice touch to the story could also come from the complicated conservation efforts over the Fountain of Time’s concrete structure. This could reflect how Taft and Dobson were right in that time eventually erases the meaning behind any single individuals beliefs. Perhaps its degradation is sign that it is time to move on from Taft’s classical tendencies and completely confront the modern era. Furthermore, Taft located his statue in the Midway to revive the area after its downfall at the end of the World Fair. The Columbian Exposition was the center of new ideas and inventions - a sign of the wonders of the future - that transformed Hyde Park into an area of brilliance for a few months and then left it barren. Taft, involved with in the World Fair, returned to the Midway after seeing the evils that could come along with an advancing age, and placed his Fountain of Time here, maybe in the form of an apology or as a sign of his resigning to the new age.

Basic Storyline: Taft’s developing into an artist and his productivity in Chicago contrasted with the World Fair and the rest of the hyper-development of the city and America. A large part would be his role in the Chicago World Fair, then the Midway’s demise and later his attempt with the Fountain of Time to revive the area.

Resources:

1. Taft, Lorado. The History of American Sculpture,. New York: Macmillan, 1924. Print. This book by Taft would serve as a great resource to the author’s own insight

2. Taft, Lorado. Modern Tendencies in Sculpture. Chicago, IL: Published for the Art Institute of Chicago by the University of Chicago, 1921. Print. This work could serve as a first-hand account of Taft’s aversion to modern sculpture and art

3. Taft, Ada Bartlett. Lorado Taft, Sculptor and Citizen,. Greensboro, NC: [Mary T. Smith], 1946. Print. Also a good account of Lorado Taft by his wife.

4. Photo essay on the Fountain of Time by Public Art in Chicago http://chicago-outdoor-sculptures.blogspot.com/2009/08/fountain-of-time.html

5. Kühl, Isabel. 50 Sculptures You Should Know. Munich: Prestel, 2009. Print.6. Rich, Jack C. The Materials and Methods of Sculpture. New York: Oxford Univ.,

1947. Print. This book is a good resource for the fact that Taft used concrete to build the Fountain of Time. Taft and his fountain are even mentioned a few times in this book.

7. Fountain of Time Analysis by Lee Price on the Tour of America’s Treasures blog http://touramericastreasures.blogspot.com/2013/02/fountain-of-time.html