- City:
- San Diego, CA
- Site Type:
- Civic Facilities, Art Works, Auxiliary Civic Facilities, Sculpture and Bas Relief
- New Deal Agencies:
- Work Relief Programs, Works Progress Administration (WPA)
- Completed:
- 1939
- Artist:
- Donal Hord
- Designer:
- Donal Hord - sculptor
- Contractor:
- Richard LIttle Cast Stone Company of San Diego
- Marked:
- Yes
Description
The “Guardian of Water” is a granite sculpture, with a mosaic and frieze around the base. It was created by Donal Hord in 1939, with support from the WPA.
The sculpture is a 23′ high figure of a woman holding an olla on her left shoulder, symbolizing the need for water conservation in southern California. She is surrounding by a mosaic of kneeling nudes- symbolizing clouds- pouring water from jars over a dam into a citrus-fruit orchard.
The San Diego Historical Society Museum has on display a small scale plaster maquette and a film about the creation of this work.
Source notes
https://newdealartregistry.org/
https://www.sandiegohistory.org/hord/guardian.htm
'San Diego Civic Centre Fountain and Donal Hord, Sculptor', by Federal Art Project, California. (at the San Diego Public Library)
Site Details
Plaque info:
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Submit More Information or Photographs for this New Deal Site2 comments on “San Diego County Administration Center Sculpture – San Diego CA”
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Henry Vizcarra
Alex Tarr
how can i post more photos, i have original b/w photos of the statue dated 1938.
Henry,
You can either submit them through our form, or e-mail them directly to us at:
[email protected] and we will post them.
Can’t wait to see them!