It was a chaotic evening pierced by sirens. Students waded in Showalter Fountain, angrily chanting. They were outraged at the firing of former coach Bob Knight, and the fountain absorbed a great deal of their disgust. When the disturbance settled, the fish of Showalter had been torn from their bases and the water was a murky green.\nLast week, Showalter was a different scene. Under a hot sun, it was like an oasis, but now more like a mirage since the fountain was dry. It was peaceful. Students studying at the fountain's edge or on benches were interrupted only by others hustling to class or by the stiff breeze.\n"It's a perfect day to be out here," sophomore Danny Cheshire said last week.\nThe fountain, with its statue of 'The Birth of Venus,' is more than a University landmark.\nCommissioned by the late University Chancellor Herman B Wells, it was designed and created by Robert Laurent, a former resident professor of sculpture. He created the six bronze sculptures in Rome and had them shipped to Bloomington by air in 1958. They were dedicated to IU Oct. 22, 1961.\n"It's the quintessential icon of Indiana University, particularly the Bloomington campus," said Sherry Rouse, curator of campus art. She is responsible for about 7,500 works of art on all of IU's campuses. \nShowalter Fountain was a gift of Mrs. Ralph Showalter, in memory of her husband, who established the foreign-trade division of Eli Lilly. She was the first woman to serve on the board of the IU Foundation.\nShowalter will now undergo repairs and refurbishment -- the cost of which is expected to reach $50,000. The fountain will likely be devoid of its fish and water until spring, Rouse said.
Repair money\nRather than simply reinstall the fish, officials are seeking funds for a more complete restoration of the fountain.\nRouse has applied for grant money through the "Save our Sculptures" (SOS) heritage funding foundation in Washington.\n"Prior to any of the vandalism incidents, I was working on this grant because the fountain is in need of conservation," Rouse said.\nIt's now an opportunity, Rouse said, to refurbish and complete repair work, in addition to repairing vandalism.\nBloomington Chancellor Kenneth Gros Louis said it is a good occasion to refurbish the fountain, as the fish are already removed and winter is approaching, thus the water in the fountain is not running. \nThe grant has two steps. The first part, mailed to the SOS foundation last week, might provide a conservator and bronze expert from the Indianapolis Museum of Art to provide a condition report.\nThe second portion, which would provide funding for repairs, requires matching funds from the University. Rouse said she thinks the restoration will cost about $50,000, while the figure could reach $80,000, the maximum grant amount.\nRouse said the matching portion will likely be met by using University employees to share some of the preservation work. The remaining dollar amount would likely come from an IU self-insurance fund, Gros Louis said.\nIf the grant fails, Rouse said she will look to other sources of funding, like the National Endowment for the Arts.\nRepairs, reinstallment and plumbing would cost between $5,000 and $8,000, Hank Hewetson, assistant director of the physical plant, said. When students tore the fish off their bases, they also damaged the fountain's plumbing system.\nHe said it now has to be completely redone.\nAdditional funds the grant might provide would cover waxing and repairing water damage on the statues. Rouse said she hopes it also will cover replacement of an original statue missing since 1987. It was taken after the basketball team won the 1987 NCAA championship.\nThe missing fish was replaced by a back-up flat fish. She said she'd prefer the original to a new replacement.\n"I'd happily take (the fish) off their hands and come and get it myself," Rouse said.\n \nNatural attraction\nSomething about Showalter Fountain has always drawn people to it. \n"Especially before the Arboretum was built, it was a place like a number of spots on campus," Gros Louis said. "It's pleasant to sit there, nice to read or talk -- with the sound of the fountain behind."\nBetween the artistic merit of the statues, the water and the flowers and trees surrounding the plaza, the fountain offers a romantic appeal.\nGros Louis remembered the first time he saw the fountain.\n"I came here in August and the fountain was running, the water flowing, and students were sitting in the outer circle studying or on the benches nearby," Gros Louis said. "A very appropriate and meditative spot that helped unite the Lilly Library, Fine Arts Building and Auditorium."\nFor students sitting at Showalter last week, the atmosphere was different.\n"It's sad. It's empty. To me, it's just not the same," Cheshire said. "It's a lot more pleasant with the water and the fish."\nFreshman Gina Warwick said she most misses cooling off her feet in the fountain. "It's a little vacant, the atmosphere is different," she said. "I liked the water."\nOthers shared similar sentiments.\n"The water made things more relaxing and peaceful," senior Matt Covele said.\nShowalter's appeal has also resulted in repeated vandalism.\nGros Louis said students pick on the fish because it's relatively easy to remove the statues and carry them away.
Questions\nAround the fountain, students are asking about the statutes -- when they will be back and where they have gone. Officials can only say that they don't know when the fountain will be restored. "We're not telling people where the fish are," Hewetson said. "We'd like to hold on to them for a while."\nBut he said all five fish are safe.\nThe goals of the restoration project, which is likely to take all winter, include repairs and refurbishing, Hewetson said.\n"You get to the point that repair is not as simple as it once was," he said.\nFuture security and protection are also issues. Possibilities include more police protection and anticipating trouble earlier, Hewetson said.
Looking for suspects\nThe IU Police Department is still trying to identify and charge those involved in damage to Showalter Fountain, IUPD Lt. Jerry Minger said.\n"Here are people who have torn up a piece of your community. Help us to identify these people so this doesn't happen in the future," Minger said.
Climate\nFor now, the 350-400 pound dolphins are gone from the fountain. The two-ton Venus, the Roman goddess of love and beauty, is all that remains for the winter. \nThe fountain has endured many changes in climate -- not only seasonal changes, but changes in campus atmosphere as well.\nOfficials said they understand Showalter has a natural tendency to draw people. \nHistorically a gathering place on campus, the fountain has seen everything from celebrations like the NCAA championship in 1987, vigils like "Take Back the Night" to protests like the Sept. 10 Knight riot.\nBut officials encourage students to take into consideration that Showalter is a piece of art.\n"I've seen it happen before, and never quite understood why anyone would cause destruction or damage," Minger said. "Particularly to some kind of art object."\nAnd someone could get hurt in the process, Hewetson added.\nSo, for the winter, IU will do without Showalter.\n"We're all going to miss the dolphins for a few months, but hopefully when they're back they'll be better than ever," Rouse said.\nAnd maybe they'll be appreciated a little more.
