The Stravinsky Fountain is back!
The wonderful, whimsical animated fountain filled with sculptures based on characters from the musical works of Igor Stravinsky, and neatly sited across from the Centre Pompidou is once again delighting children and adults.
As readers may know from past posts, the Stravinsky Fountain is one of my favorite Paris places, although sadly, since 2017 it had been dry, silent and unmoving.
Perhaps this year's Olympics was the spur that got its renovations and repairs done, but whatever got it done, I am grateful.
The fountain was created in 1983 by Jean Tinguely (the black machines) and his wife and fellow artist Niki de Saint Phalle (the colorful figures) at the suggestion of the conductor Pierre Boulez, whose musicology institute is both next door and underneath the fountain.
The musical connection to the institute is obvious, but it also comes with some mechanical difficulties. Because of what is underneath, the fountain had to be designed as a shallow basin with lightweight materials.
That's also the reason why the sculptural figures themselves are made of lightweight metals and fiberglass. Over the years, many repairs have closed the fountain for brief periods; hopefully the full restoration that's been completed now will ensure it's always there whenever one visits.
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