Evaluation concepts and applications

Fountain is a form of public art that has been part of city life for many centuries. Modern fountains follow the same tendencies that modern sculpture and architecture take, leaning towards abstract and symbolist figures that harmonize with urban building. The colors used are mostly natural to their own materials: stone, granite, metal or brass. The lines preferred are combination of vertical straight lines and spiral swirls, the combination of balanced composition with dynamic elements. Sometimes those lines are given, not only by the solid pieces of the structure, but by the moving water itself. Fountains are ornamental works of art, with the sole purpose of embellishing outdoors spaces, rarely representing clear figures or scenes, although in the past they were very narrative. Simplicity of shape and basic geometry is the main element used, and often recur to color effects of lighting to achieve more interesting effects. A fountain needs to combine elements from architecture and sculpture to achieve the proper compositional balance and harmony. They usually rely on symmetry to give this effect, and also arranging figures in the composition, using emerging figures from the water. All those elements have to be in communication with each other to achieve unity in the composition.

Food sculpture is not conventionally considered art, because of its perishable nature, but it is sculpture as much as any work made in stone. Butter figures have to be made on location and kept in refrigerated places, to avoid butter to melt during the process or while they're being exposed to the public. It can take up to 1,000 pounds of butter, depending on the size and shape of the butter, and several days of work to complete a piece. Butter sculpture uses the original color of the material, unlike chocolate or other forms of food sculpture that may appear colored sometimes. This kind of art is purely ornamental and usually displayed for special occasions such as festivals or expositions. While stone sculpture acquires an abstract dimension, food figures usually represent realistic images, farm motives, such as horses, cows or country people engaged in their daily routine.