Farewell to Orpheus, Bronze fountain and sculpture in Portland State University, United States.
Farewell to Orpheus is a bronze fountain sculpture at Portland State University that depicts the mythological figure of Eurydice as she says goodbye. The composition merges flowing water with the bronze figure, creating a reflective space within the urban setting of the South Park Blocks.
The work was created by sculptor Frederic Littman between 1968 and 1973 as part of the South Park Blocks Urban Renewal Development Project. A comprehensive restoration in 2009 returned the fountain to operation after it had been inactive for a decade.
The artwork shows Eurydice saying goodbye to her husband Orpheus, drawing from ancient Greek mythology that many visitors recognize. The sculpture sits in a space where students pass through daily, making classical stories part of everyday campus life.
The fountain is located on the Portland State University campus near Southwest Montgomery Street, where students and visitors can find seating areas. The water operates in a recirculating system, which makes it easy to maintain and keeps the surrounding area clean.
The fountain recirculates water continuously, making it an environmentally conscious installation that conserves resources and reduces waste. This approach to water management was innovative for its time in the 1970s and remains a defining feature of the design.
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