Reader question: What's up with the water on the paddle wheel?

Barb wrote:

I enjoy the paddlewheel at the Town Square and think it adds to the atmosphere during the summer when the "water" part of it is up and running. I do have a question though and wonder if you could investigate it. Why does the water run down one side of it? Can't it be made to work so water runs down both sides of the paddlewheel? To me it looks like it's only working half way right...

As luck would have it, Barb, I did investigate this a long time ago. The answer is that the wheel is supposed to look like it was in motion. Imagine the wheel on a paddleboat as it's turning. Water comes down only on the side that was just in the water. The other side is still in the air. If that's the case, I always thought a more asymmetrical arrangement would've enhanced the illusion of motion even more.

While we're on the topic of public art, I'm still trying to figure out who's responsible for that goofy fountain thing -- the one with the two faces facing each other -- at the parking lot across from the Dacotah Hotel. I'm told city staff calls it the "Beavis and Butthead" lot. If you don't know what I'm talking about head downtown sometime. The likeness is uncanny.

Come to think of it, there must be a city guide to public art somewhere. Be back soon with the answer.

Update: 10:10 p.m., 7/6/06: Since you asked, here's a side-by-side comparison. Sorry about the first image. I have a digital camera but it doesn't cooperate with the computers here so I had to use by cell phone camera.

"Now and Then" statue	Beavis and Butthead

According to a pamphlet published a couple of summers ago:

"Now and Then"; Patrick Luber; Grand Forks, N.D. The interior of the doorway outlines two faces looking at each other, the negative space forms the shape of a vase. [Not sure why that's significant. - Tu]The upper portion of the fountain echoes the shape of the vase/face configuration. The repeated use of the vase suggests looking forward and back, contemplating the changes that have occurred over the years and anticipating things to come. [Photo is from the other side so the fountain isn't as prominent. - Tu] The flowing water of the fountain mimics the theme of the passage of time. "Now and Then" reminds us that, although water has the potential to create havoc, it is also a thing of beauty and a life-giving force.

Luber has some other works that you can see here.