March 25, 2016 - Fountain of Seseragi

Tucked into a corner of the primary green space at Seattle Center is a small water feature, the Fountain of Seseragi by Gerard Tsutakawa. Seseragi, or "murmuring waters", is a bronze sculpture featuring a terraced fountain with v-shaped troughs.  The two streams of water gently converge and circulate as one.  The nearby International Fountain is a completely different type of water feature that commands the attention of visitors.  Its powerful and playful water nozzles, choreographed to music, shooting water blasts that seem to reach nearly as high as the overlooking Space Needle.   By contrast, the Fountain of Seseragi was installed in 2000 and presents a quiet, peaceful, intimate space where one can view Seattle Center visitors in an almost detached fashion.

If you've ever attended a Mariner's game at Safeco field you've likely seen another work by Mr. Tsutakawa.  He is the artist behind the 9 foot high bronze sculpture "Mitt" located outside of the left field entrance.

(The  fountain was in a post in May of 2011, but the original file has since been lost.)

August 21, 2013 - International Fountain

Seattle Center's International Fountain is a great place to cool off on a warm August afternoon.  The fountain seems to draw out the inner kid in parents, chaperones and other responsible adults as everyone that ventures into the fountain's bowl ends up getting at least a little wet and for most, a lot wet! 

Kids in street clothes start out flirting with the fountains spray, but end up just as wet as those in swimsuits.  And kids in swimsuits with umbrellas....they get soaked through!

The fountain was built in 1961 for the 1962 World's Fair and was rebuilt into the current configuration in 1995.  The original rocky mound replaced with a smooth silver dome.  The Seattle Center claims that the 9,000 gallons of recycled water pumped through the 137 nozzles is some of the cleanest in the city going through 3 separate treatments.  Not that anyone seems to notice!

October 22, 2010 - The Soul of Seattle

A nearly full moon and Jupiter overlook the International Fountain located in the heart of the 87 acre Seattle Center grounds. Seattle Center was the location of the 1962 World's Fair. Some 10 million visitors attended the profitable fair. Funds for the preparations came largely from bonds totalling some $15 million. One of the many legacies of the fair includes the buildings and public spaces at the Seattle Center that remain. These include the Space Needle, monorail, auditoriums, an opera house, a performing arts center and civic center. In the middle of the space is a large, open public space with the International fountain as its focal point. Seattle Center is purportedly the fourth largest visitor's center in the US and is considered by many to be the soul of Seattle, with the International Fountain being Seattle's front lawn.