Wednesday, April 6, 2011

Peace Fountain - New York City

The Peace Fountain located next to the Cathedral of St. John the Divine in New York City 
is a cast-bronze statue by Greg Wyatt, built in 1985, 40 feet tall and weighing 16 tons. I absolutely loved it. It shows good defeating evil, with contrasting forces of light and darkness, life and death, and violence and harmony, which God is able to reconcile with peace.  We did not see it when the fountain was operating, but apparently four different rivulates of water "cascade" down the pedestal "into a maelstrom evoking the primordial chaos of earth." There are four flames at the base, which look like hands, 
arising out of the chaos "in witness to the future." I don't know if fire actually comes out of the base, but if it does, it perhaps could signify the creation of the earth, much like molten lava creating land out of the steam it creates in the ocean. The pedestal is shaped like the "double helix of DNA, the key molecule of life"  
with a large crab resting on top, 
representing "life's origins" out of the sea. I love the crab. A moon faces west, 
representing tranquility and perhaps darkness and death, while a smiling sun faces east, representing joy, light and perhaps life. 
A lion and lamb nestle together under the sun, representing peace that will come with the millennium. A winged Michael the archangel, representing good, 
led the heavenly hosts against the forces of evil. Michael has cut off the head of Satan, his chief adversary, using the sword in his hand, 
and Satan's head dangles 
below one of the crab's claws. 
There are nine giraffes, 
"among the most peaceable of animal" in the center, 
with one resting its head on the bosom of Michael.

1 comment:

  1. As I prepare for my trip to NYC with my daughter, it's helpful to come back and re-read these posts. Thanks for such great details!

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