In 2004 we submitted to an international call for world-leading
artists and designers, for work to be installed at the Ontario Science
Centre. We were one of 230 applicants from around the world, of which
40 were selected, by an internationally recognized jury, to complete
full proposals. Of these, we were shortlisted among 10 chosen to
present, and finally we were chosen after presenting in-person. In
2006 we designed, built, and installed our public fountain as the main
centerpiece out in front of the Ontario Science Centre, a landmark
architecture site[1]. Telus funded the 10 million dollar "Teluscape"
project creating a large intellectual playground with 3 windmills,
together with the sustainable interactive fountain. This fountain
recirculates a small amount of water, with far lower water consumption
than any other landmark architectural fountain in the world. One
important way it saves water is by celebrating a small amount of water
in a sensory-engaging way, in which turbulences and vibrations in the
water create sound and tactile stimulus. We've gone on to install
these at other universities, museums, and schools (including Canadian
National Institute for the Blind). These hydraulophones are more than
just musical instruments ---- they provide a soothing and spiritually
healing space.
University of Toronto presently lacks a central focal point such as a
water feature, around which people can gather to relax and meet.
Much in the spirit of a town's well, or the
"village pump", a number of us have been
contemplating a water feature on campus that would function as an
experimental test site for sustainable energy, water treatment,
downspout disconnect, and irrigation. It would also capture the
fluidity across many different areas of study, ranging from fluid
mechanics to landscape architecture, to water therapy (health care),
physical education and wellbeing, music therapy, and the
flow of information/communication. The fountain would be a
multimedia "web 3.0" cyberfountain linking the flow of water with the
flow of information, to create a positive, social, fun, educational,
and spiritually uplifting water feature.
The Global Village Fountain would be a co-curricular "living
laboratory" where the rhythms and harmonies of music would flow into
ongoing research curricula on water and sustainability.
The Global Village Fountain would begin at University of Toronto, and
would eventually consist of a network of cyberfountains in various
cities, connected together, so participants can touch water -- the
same water we all share -- to engage each other across geographical
boundaries.
