Ruth Asawa's San Francisco Fountain is a bronze bas-relief sculpture on the staircase leading to the Grand Hyatt at 301-349 Stockton Street. Its panels depict recognizable scenes and details from San Francisco, including the city seal. Asawa invited more than 100 local children, friends and visitors to shape designs in baker’s clay, which were then cast in bronze. Walk around the staircase to see how the reliefs and fountain look from different levels, and take a moment to study the panels closely.
How the bronze reliefs were made
Ruth Asawa involved more than 100 local children, friends and visitors in creating the fountain’s designs. They molded the scenes in baker’s clay, and the models were cast in bronze.
The panels show identifiable parts of San Francisco. Look for the city seal among the detailed reliefs.
Ruth Asawa's work
Asawa’s sculpture is also held by the Whitney and Guggenheim museums. At this fountain, the collaborative making process is part of the work’s story: local participants helped form the images that became bronze panels.
Perguntas frequentes
Where is Ruth Asawa's San Francisco Fountain?
It is on the staircase leading to the Grand Hyatt at 301-349 Stockton Street in San Francisco.
What do the fountain's bronze panels depict?
They depict recognizable aspects of San Francisco, including the city seal.
How were the bronze scenes created?
More than 100 local children, friends and visitors shaped designs in baker’s clay. Those models were then cast in bronze.
Is the fountain wheelchair accessible?
The entrance is wheelchair accessible.
