Aiken native offers to sculpt new look for broken fountain

Canterbury Court was filled with kids when I was growing up there in the 1960s. We had five in our family, the Jennings family had four, the Warners had four, the Ferraras had five, the Randalls had five. Throw in a few more families and their youngsters, and the roll call would have lasted half an hour if we had gotten everyone together.

Which brings me to the topic of fountains.

One of the many who grew up at that time was a Randall child named Esther. She was three years younger than the eldest of the Randall kids, Lenore, who graduated with me from Aiken High School.

The Randall dad, Duncan, rode in the same carpool with my father for many years. The mom, Mary Ellen, and my mother were friends. We all attended the same church, and I have been able to keep up with some of the family's comings and goings over the years. One of the children's children went through the Communications program at USC Aiken and interned at the Aiken Standard for a summer.

Early this week, I received an e-mail from Linda Hunley alerting me that Esther Randall was in town and was to meet with the Aiken Arts Commission at its Monday meeting.

She was going to discuss with the members proposals for the fountain on Newberry Street - the one whose oversized concrete magnolia broke and dropped into the water-filled basin. What remains is that basin and the jets of water that spray high in the air.

People are wondering what will happen with the fountain, and the Arts Commission is working diligently to come up with ideas about the future look of that mainstay of Newberry Street.

I did not realize until Linda's e-mail came, but Esther is an accomplished artist - a sculptor to be precise. She is a professor of sculpture at Eastern Kentucky University and brought with her to the Monday meeting not only an expertise in sculpting but also a love of Aiken.

Esther has offered to the Arts Commission her input on potential ideas for the fountain, sketches of the project when a theme is determined and an at-cost production and installation of a statue for the project as determined by the Arts Commission and City leaders.

That is a generous offer from a lady who knows her field. But why would a celebrated artist be so generous with her time and talents when she doesn't even live here?

Easy answer.

Esther has a vested interest in leaving a lasting artistic legacy in her hometown because she loves the city and because she loves her mother and her late father. She is asking only for a small plaque on the fountain that dedicates the statue she completes in honor and in memory of her parents. I know her mom is smiling as she thinks of her daughter offering to do such a lasting piece of work for the city that has meant so much to the family.

I know her dad would be pleased, as well. A great Father's Day gift.

The lure of Aiken to those who have grown up here is often a powerful draw. Even when they do not return to live here, there is something about this city that makes people want to put their mark on it to benefit those of us fortunate to call this our home. Esther Randall is one of those.

Jeff Wallace is editor of the Aiken Standard.