If you’ve ever given or asked someone for directions to the Sloan Music Center, you’ve probably heard of the Spirit Waves Fountain sculpture, more commonly known by students as “the French fry sculpture.” Here we would like to note that, as artist Aristides Demetrios reminds, “you only nickname a person you’re acquainted with.” That is, here at Davidson, we have become acquainted with Spirit Waves, and have made it our own by nature of its new, affectionate nickname–we acknowledge the sculpture’s belonging to our campus and have integrated it into our culture.
Spirit Waves Fountain was a gift to Davidson College in 2003 from Dr. McAllister Jr. class of ’61, and was designed by Jésus Moroles. Moroles was born in Corpus Christi, Texas in 1950 and first learned about stonemasonry during his childhood by working with an uncle in Rockport, Texas. Later, he studied at North Texas State University before taking on an apprenticeship under renowned sculptor Luis Jiménez. Before returning to Texas to create monumental granite sculptures, Moroles studied and worked in Pietrasanta, Italy from 1979-1980. Among many other awards, he received the National Medal of Arts from President George W. Bush in 2008 for his public sculptures. In the fall of 2013, Moroles was able to come to Davidson College for the dedication of Spirit Waves, during which he recorded an audio tour about the sculpture. Sadly, Moroles passed away in 2015 in a car crash, but his sculpture and audio tour remain as a wonderful testimony to his creative genius. The sculpture is composed of Texas pink granite and Fredericksburg granite formed in a wavy, rectangular shape that gave the sculpture its affectionate nickname.
Spirit Waves is one of my favorite sculptures on campus—you can often see professors holding class seated around the sculpture on a sunny day, or students doing homework. Occasionally, you may see students taking a nap by the statue. I personally love the lighthearted style of Spirit Waves and the ambiance the sculpture brings to campus. It stands in the center of the triangle made by Chambers, Wall and Dana: three academic buildings that cause me a lot of stress. So the next time you’re lost or stressed or somewhere in between, you might consider a nap by the French fry.
To hear the Art Audio Guide on Spirit Waves, dial (704) 894-1600 x 7.