The Caryatids Of Old Town
One of my favorite landmarks to photograph. I don’t know why, maybe because there seems to be a generous amount of activity in this area stemming from the constant arrivals and departures of trains, not to mention the hundreds of patrons from the Portland Saturday and Sunday Market passing through. I really liked the way the afternoon light landed on the water.
This is Skidmore Fountain and it is Portland’s oldest commissioned public art. Located on 1st Avenue between W. Burnside and Ankeny this popular water fountain stands at what was once the city center. Druggist Stephen Skidmore left $5,000 in his will so that “horses, men, and dogs” could have a cold drink. The fountain was sculpted by Olin Warner who modeled the face of his wife on one of the two caryatids. New York critics lamented that the sculpture was in Portland and that it looked down “upon buggies and buck-boards, and shirt-sleeves and slouch hats in Oregon instead of decorating the Central Park.”
Here are some other images from this water fountain if you’re interested:
www.flickr.com/photos/31246066@N04/9765622154
www.flickr.com/photos/31246066@N04/8018487831
www.flickr.com/photos/31246066@N04/7484606256
www.flickr.com/photos/31246066@N04/6218990701
The Caryatids Of Old Town
One of my favorite landmarks to photograph. I don’t know why, maybe because there seems to be a generous amount of activity in this area stemming from the constant arrivals and departures of trains, not to mention the hundreds of patrons from the Portland Saturday and Sunday Market passing through. I really liked the way the afternoon light landed on the water.
This is Skidmore Fountain and it is Portland’s oldest commissioned public art. Located on 1st Avenue between W. Burnside and Ankeny this popular water fountain stands at what was once the city center. Druggist Stephen Skidmore left $5,000 in his will so that “horses, men, and dogs” could have a cold drink. The fountain was sculpted by Olin Warner who modeled the face of his wife on one of the two caryatids. New York critics lamented that the sculpture was in Portland and that it looked down “upon buggies and buck-boards, and shirt-sleeves and slouch hats in Oregon instead of decorating the Central Park.”
Here are some other images from this water fountain if you’re interested:
www.flickr.com/photos/31246066@N04/9765622154
www.flickr.com/photos/31246066@N04/8018487831
www.flickr.com/photos/31246066@N04/7484606256
www.flickr.com/photos/31246066@N04/6218990701