AJIJIC FOUNTAIN
Fountains in public squares are as ubiquitous as tourists and pigeons. Almost universally they are positioned to provide visual and aural focus and asked to contribute to street life with their sparkle and splash. Ajijic Mexico’s fountain has yet another, subtler role.
Photograph and Text by Charlene Meredith and Douglas Pollard
The first clue to IT’Ss role is its location, far from the heart of the square and out of sight at the very end of a callejon (pedestrian alleyway) connecting the square to an adjacent street.
The second clue is its design. Ajijic’s population of 10,000 Mexicans and ex pats includes many gifted artists who normally would contribute to the fountain design as they have to the many outdoor sculptures, murals, paving inlays and colour schemes. Instead, the fountain is an uninspiring, grey emotionless and bulky object, festooned with four curious corner elements that would obscure any water movement if, indeed, there was ever any water in it.
In truth it is simply a big bulky bollard, placed and designed to end previous frequent and endangering attendance by pick up driving Tequila enthusiasts at the many fiestas and events. Access is now only by foot, including those of the occasional horse
AJIJIC FOUNTAIN
Fountains in public squares are as ubiquitous as tourists and pigeons. Almost universally they are positioned to provide visual and aural focus and asked to contribute to street life with their sparkle and splash. Ajijic Mexico’s fountain has yet another, subtler role.
Photograph and Text by Charlene Meredith and Douglas Pollard
The first clue to IT’Ss role is its location, far from the heart of the square and out of sight at the very end of a callejon (pedestrian alleyway) connecting the square to an adjacent street.
The second clue is its design. Ajijic’s population of 10,000 Mexicans and ex pats includes many gifted artists who normally would contribute to the fountain design as they have to the many outdoor sculptures, murals, paving inlays and colour schemes. Instead, the fountain is an uninspiring, grey emotionless and bulky object, festooned with four curious corner elements that would obscure any water movement if, indeed, there was ever any water in it.
In truth it is simply a big bulky bollard, placed and designed to end previous frequent and endangering attendance by pick up driving Tequila enthusiasts at the many fiestas and events. Access is now only by foot, including those of the occasional horse