Two Views of ... The Crown Fountain

Today's "Two Views" is of the Crown Fountain in Millennium Park. The two views are in Summer (August, top photo) and Spring (April, bottom photo). What a difference four months makes.

In April, people enjoy the fountains and watching the faces that spit (OK - actually spray) water. But from the edge. In August, people get in there and enjoy the fountains from "inside" of the fountain. People, mainly kids, line up to have the water spray on them. They actually count down to the time that the fountain will spray again (but it isn't an exact science - sometimes they have to count once or twice).

August

April

Fountains that Spit

The Crown Fountain in Millennium Park has two large screens that display several different faces in rotation. At regular intervals during the Spring, Summer, and early Fall, the faces spit water into the plaza area. On really hot days, you'll see visitors, mostly children, getting cooled off. The mouths are lined up with the water spout to give the illusion of the faces spraying water. The faces are the artist's (Jaume Plensa) modern take on the gargoyles and mythical creatures that usually spray the water in fountains.