‘Synectic Falls’ a Downer, Lagunans Say

As Laguna Beach struggles to keep the Festival of Arts from moving to San Clemente, the city is looking to rid itself of perhaps its second most public art installation: the fountain in front of City Hall.

It’s never been among the more popular pieces of artwork in the arty town, this 12-foot inverted cone that splashes water onto a tiny walled-in area. It’s never even worked right. Many Lagunans complain that its geometric modernity is out of place with the Spanish styling of historic City Hall. Since the fountain was installed eight years ago, popular opinion seems to have ranged from “Get it out of here” to “It’s a good place to wash off your sandy feet.”

The former argument is winning out, as the City Council takes steps to move the fountain from its spot outside the fire station to, well, somewhere. The council has asked its Arts Commission to come back with ideas.

“I’m not crazy about [the fountain], obviously,” said Councilman Paul Freeman, who brought the issue before the council. “I can’t see it working aesthetically--apart from the fact that it’s not working literally--where it is.”

Many locals agree.

“It’s an eyesore,” said Kenny Quigley, manager of Cedar Creek Inn, a restaurant housed in a French country-style building across from the fountain. “It just doesn’t fit the charm of Laguna.”

“None of us ever liked it,” said Janet Koelle, a Laguna Beach resident who walks down Forest Avenue regularly. “I mean, they paid so much money for this thing, it’s ridiculous.”

The 1991 City Council, none of whose members are on the present council, spent about $27,000 for the steel, bronze-plated sculpture titled “Synectic Falls” by Tom Askman of Spokane, Wash. Askman, who was not available for comment, placed a small plaque by the fountain that praises Laguna Beach for its “exuberant” support of the arts.

With installation, water pump repairs, a retaining wall and maintenance so far, the bill rings in at about $40,000.

“I don’t think people realized what it was going to be like,” said former Councilwoman Ann Christoph, a landscape artist who voted against the sculpture in 1991.

Aside from aesthetic concerns, the fountain never worked the way it was supposed to. The water that cascades from the top of the larger, inverted cone is supposed to hit a groove in the smaller cone and produce a small stream. But the water pressure is too low to reach the smaller cone or to create the planned arc of water for people to walk beneath without getting splashed.

“It deserves a new home,” Councilwoman Toni Iseman said, tactfully.

Not that the fountain is totally without fans.

“I like it. It’s beautiful,’ said Caroline Chevee, a visiting law student from Paris who was enjoying a meal on the patio of the Cedar Creek Inn last week.

For years, beachgoers have washed off their sandy feet in it. And the grandchildren of former Mayor Lida Lenney enjoy playing in the fountain. Lenney voted for the piece back in 1991.

“I don’t think it’s a bad thing for people to have a controversy and for them to pay attention to the art object and talk about it,” Lenney said.

Before the city can do anything with the sculpture, city staff members must review legal issues to see whether the agreement with the sculptor permits relocation. Sian Poeschl, the city’s liaison to the Arts Commission, said relocation is still hypothetical.

But the fountain’s detractors are all in favor of seeing it gone. And outside Laguna Beach would be just fine by them.

Dave Connell, former president of the Laguna Beach Taxpayers’ Assn., had a suggestion: “I think we should just sell it to San Clemente.”