Raymond I. Jacobson and Russell Ferlen
1967
Commissioned for the Centennial Celebration
Fountain was designed by Professor Raymond Jacobson of the Carleton Art Department as a Commission for Carleton College’s Centennial Celebration in 1967 (Perlman Museum). Russell Ferlen (college “instrument maker”) helped develop the mechanism that allows the sculpture to rotate. Together, they spent four months working on the sculpture.
“[T]he work represents no theme or Idea, but evolved as a response to the climatic, human, and physical environment of Carleton.The design is complete without flowing water because for much of the year it must function not as a fountain, but as a sculpture.”
Banks, 1967, 8.
The 8 ft and 700 lbs sculpture is made of bronze, cement, and metal hardware (materials that can survive the MN weather) and was designed to rotate very slowly. The rotation of the sculpture and flowing water help provide changing perspectives and constant change. Jacobson and Ferlen both agreed that “a work of art, once permanently placed, is too often taken for granted as a part of the surrounding landscape” (Coelges, 1967). Thus, It was designed to contrast the flatness of Boliou by providing a lively and showy visual to people walking into the building. Additionally, the supporting column and pool are plain geometric designs that help to bring focus to the sculpture itself and not distract from it. (Banks, 1967, 8).It was said that Jacobson’s “tact as a sculptor is to make art like himself: sound and solid, never intimidating, but quietly persuasive over time.” (Fure-Slocum, 2012). This is reflected in his Fountain.
