Peace Fountain by Greg Wyatt

The Peace Fountain stands as a forty-foot bronze monument dedicated in nineteen eighty-five to mark the two hundredth anniversary of the Episcopal Diocese of New York. Sculpted by the cathedral artist-in-residence Greg Wyatt, the work centers on the Archangel Michael, who is depicted with a seventeen-foot wingspan as he uses a sword to defeat Satan. The decapitated head of the fallen figure hangs below the crab claw upon which Michael stands. The sculpture incorporates a diverse array of symbols to represent the struggle between good and evil. A central pedestal is modeled after the double helix of DNA to signify the fundamental molecule of life, while nine giraffes spiral around the structure because they are considered some of the most peaceable creatures on Earth. Tucked near a sun-shaped disk, you can also find a lion and a lamb resting together as a traditional biblical reference to peace. During the installation of this monument, workers were interrupted by a group of protesters who demanded jobs at the site, leaving the massive bronze figure suspended from a crane for several hours. Once the sculpture was finally in place, the fountain faced another hurdle due to a severe citywide drought. Because public fountains were officially banned to conserve water, the cathedral had to secure a special one-day variance from city officials just to operate the water feature for the dedication ceremony. While the sculpture was designed to include four courses of water cascading down its base to evoke the primordial chaos of Earth, the water was turned off only a few years after its unveiling. Strong winds often blew the spray entirely out of the basin and across Amsterdam Avenue, forcing the fountain to remain dry for decades. The sunken area that once held the water has since been repurposed as a garden. The base of the monument is surrounded by a collection of small bronze animals created by students from across the tri-state area. These pieces, collectively known as the Children's Sculpture Garden, were selected through a five-year competition that invited K-twelve students to contribute to the cathedral grounds. The resulting collection includes everything from mythical beasts to representations of historical figures like Albert Einstein and John Lennon, reflecting the diverse community the cathedral sought to engage through the project. TOPIC_DONE