Guardian of Water (1939) 

Donal Hord

DESCRIPTION:  13-foot high, 12-ton granite sculpture on a 9-foot diameter circular carved granite base with mosaic tiles, and mounted within a carved granite and ceramic tile pool and fountain

Hord's granite sculpture/statue depicts an "American pioneer woman holding an olla on her left shoulder." (San Diego Union-Tribune, June 11, 1939).  The pool is encircled by a formed concrete rim depicting a sea of dolphins and skipjack tuna.
Dedicated on June 10, 1939 at an event attended by hundreds, this statue, sculpture, and fountain installation was prompted by a $6,000 gift from local resident Helen Towle and subsequently became a Federal Arts Project of the Works Projects Administration.  Helen M. Towle made a separate $24,000 gift to the San Diego Fine Arts Society, which in turn presented the completed work to the City of San Diego in her honor .
LOCATION:  harbor side of San Diego County Administration Center building, 1600 Pacific Highway, San Diego, California, USA
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