Oscar Graves and Marshall Fredericks working on the small-scale plaster model for "The Expanding Universe Fountain"

Oscar Graves and Marshall Fredericks working on the small-scale plaster model for "The Expanding Universe Fountain"

Artists' studios--United States.
Figure sculpture, American--20th century.
Fountains.
Fredericks, Marshall M., 1908-1998
Graves, Oscar

This fountain celebrates the nation's first exploration of outer space. According to Fredericks, the sculpture "represents this age of great interest, exploration and discovery in outer space...[and] the immensity, order and mystery of the universe.”

The monumental central figure suggests a superhuman mythological being. Seated upon a ten-foot sphere, covered in a pattern of bright-star constellations, the figure holds two planets that he is sending off into space. The dynamic spiral orbit-form swirling around the sphere represents the speed and perpetual motion of space. Play of the water from numerous star-shaped sprays increases the feeling of movement.

The full-scale casting of this sculpture is located in the South Court of the United States State Department Building in Washington, D.C.

The fountain is also known as: "Man and the Expanding Universe"

Marshall M. Fredericks Papers
Series V, Box 9 Folder 20

n.d.

Use of this image requires permission from the Marshall M. Fredericks Archives.

V-09-20

image/jpeg

Image

6

Royal Oak (Mich.)

Black and white print

8" x 10"