Brower Hatcher

Artwork

WELLSPRING

MATERIALS: Stainless steel base, powder-coated stainless steel rod structure; stainless steel water deflectors, stainless steel and copper hardware
DIMENSIONS: Height 31 feet; Diameter 15 feet; Depth 15 feet
DATE: 2007
LOCATION: Bayliss Park: 1st Avenue & Pearl Street

OCULUS

MATERIALS: Granite columns, stainless ring; powder-coated stainless steel rod structure; mirrored stainless steel discs; brass and copper hardware
DIMENSIONS: Height 22 feet; Diameter 25 feet; Depth 25 feet
DATE: 2007
LOCATION: Bayliss Park: 1st Avenue & Pearl Street

Brower Hatcher is an internationally recognized artist whose work interprets the intricate geometric structures found within natural organisms and living systems. When considering site specific public artwork, Brower not only investigates forms, patterns, color and scale that are relative to the site but he also considers the local history and culture in order to create a collective memory of place and inspiration.

The revival of Bayliss Park, the cornerstone of the revitalization of the Council Bluffs community, provided a unique opportunity to resonate with the voice of history by showcasing turn-of-the-century icons and recreating them in a contemporary manner.

As Brower noted, “As the heart of Council Bluffs, Bayliss Park is the perfect showcase for the revival and embodiment of this community’s vitality. I am a strong believer in the power of public art as an instrument of revitalization, so it’s been an honor to be selected for this project and a privilege to share my vision for generations to come.”

The fountain, Wellspring, stands as the centerpiece of the park’s renovation and replaces the original one, installed in the 1880’s. Brower’s intent was to maintain historical continuity by evoking the original form, while constructing the fountain as an image of the future. Comprised of powder-coated stainless steel, the framework forms two concentric flutes, mimicking the spray of water that ascends the top of the fountain. A geyser of water shooting up through the flutes cascades over the ring into the pool below. During the winter months the sculptural fountain will stand elegantly, crystalline in the winter sun. It will be illuminated at night to stand as a beacon–a reminder of the promise of play and recreation, of contemplation and repose.

The performance pavilion, Oculus, provides an active amenity for the park that invites community performances, weddings, ceremonies, and celebrations. For this piece, Brower created a dome, constructed of a similar matrix as Wellspring, set on four classical columns. By using a layered sequence of colored rods and mirrored discs throughout, the dome becomes a radiant and prismatic homage to the arts and ceremonies it will host.

Biography

Brower Hatcher was born in Atlanta, GA. He attended Vanderbilt University School of Engineering in Nashville, TN and received his degree in Industrial Design from Pratt Institute in New York. He then studied sculpture at St. Martins School of Art in London, U.K. with Sir Anthony Caro and William Tucker.

Hatcher has built over 30 public art projects throughout the U.S. Brower Hatcher is a recipient of three National Endowment for the Arts Fellowships, a Guggenheim Fellowship and an honorary Ph.D. from the State University of New York. He works at the historic Steel Yard in Providence, RI as the artistic director of Mid-Ocean Studio Inc.

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