Exploring New York City's Fabulous Fountains with Stephanie Azzarone and Robert Rodriguez

The Art and Oasis of NYC Fountains

• 💡 Fountains in New York City serve as oases of nature amidst the urban landscape, offering art and a respite from the city's glass and steel.
• 🎨 Many fountain sculptures are by artists whose work is also found in major museums, highlighting the high quality of public art.
• 📸 Photographers like Robert Rodriguez focus on interpreting fountains within their settings and capturing how people interact with them.

Historical Significance and Water Access

• 💧 The establishment of fountains in NYC was often linked to the need for healthy drinking water, especially after cholera epidemics.
• ⛲ The Croton Aqueduct, established in 1842, brought clean water to the city, leading to the creation of fountains to celebrate this availability and provide immediate access, sometimes with attached cups.
• 🐎 A surprising number of early fountains were designed for "man or beast," catering to both humans and horses, reflecting the city's reliance on carriage horses.

Notable Fountains and Their Stories

• 🏛️ The City Hall Park Fountain has a complex history, including the controversial "Civic Virtue Triumphant over Unrighteousness" statue and its eventual replacement and restoration.
• 🐕 The Hooper Fountain on Edgecomb Avenue uniquely features separate basins for horses, people, and dogs.
• 💎 The Evangeline Blashfield Fountain is a unique mosaic and stone creation, designed for both horses and people, and features a portrait of Blashfield.
• 🌊 The Bailey Fountain at Grand Army Plaza, recently restored, features Art Deco figures and classical elements like Neptune and frogs, with a striking depiction of an aged, laughing god.
• 😇 The Bethesda Fountain in Central Park, with its Angel of the Waters statue, symbolizes healing and the availability of clean water, drawing inspiration from biblical scripture.

Fountains Across the Boroughs

• 🐬 The Fountain of the Dolphins in Staten Island, a modern, playful design, serves as a portal between urban life and the beach.
• 🔱 The Neptune Fountain at Snug Harbor in Staten Island, though initially neglected, is a highly sculptural piece with an intense gaze.
• 🌟 The Unisphere Fountain in Queens, a landmark from the 1964-65 World's Fair, has had an intermittent history of operation but is a significant feature when active.
• 🦁 The Fountain of Life at the New York Botanical Garden in the Bronx features mermaids and cherubs, while the Fantasia Fountain in Parkchester offers an exuberant, indescribable Art Deco-modern design.