January 27, 2025 - The Salt Lake City Arts Council’s Public Art Program has commissioned Stephen Goldsmith to reimagine the iconic Seven Canyons Fountain public artwork in Liberty Park. Goldsmith, a renowned artist and member of the original design team for Seven Canyons Fountain, is an urban ecologist, planner, scholar, and activist. He will collaborate with ArcSitio, a landscape architecture firm, to transform the fountain into a new artwork that honors its history while evolving into something entirely new.
Originally created in 1993 at the request of Dr. Obert Tanner, a prominent philanthropic figure in Utah, Seven Canyons Fountain was envisioned as a celebration of the life-giving role of water in the Salt Lake Valley. “When Dr. Obert Tanner asked our original team to design a place for people to share his love of water, celebrating its life force in the valley, it was a privilege and responsibility we meaningfully embraced,” Goldsmith reflects. Now, over three decades later, the project is entering a new chapter.
Goldsmith’s reimagined design will integrate sculpture, light, sound, and elements of the natural environment to create an immersive, multisensory experience. This transformation reflects the evolving needs of the park and its visitors, moving beyond the traditional concept of a fountain into something more ecological, interactive, and contemplative. “I’m committed to making sure Dr. Tanner’s gift nearly 32 years ago is modified into a place that merges his love of water into a place of refuge, a place for understanding the hydrology of our home in the desert, and a space to dream,” says Goldsmith.
The reimagined artwork, tentatively referred to as Seven Canyons Refuge, will continue to serve as a space to explore the hydrology of the valley and its relationship to the natural world. It will highlight the complex interplay of Salt Lake City’s water systems while also inviting reflection on the ecological challenges faced by the Great Salt Lake. Goldsmith envisions the space as “a place where people can immerse themselves in a multisensory experience, a place for play, celebration, creativity, and contemplation.” His design will also integrate the area more fully into the park’s ecosystem, weaving together its multicultural, social, and environmental connections.
Goldsmith’s expertise in integrating art, ecology, and community will guide this transformation. His career includes a legacy of environmental works and public installations, as well as his pioneering role as the first artist/planning director appointed in a major city in the U.S. His enduring commitment to urban sustainability and creative placemaking ensures the reimagined artwork will remain a cherished part of Liberty Park for years to come.
The Seven Canyons Refuge project is being led by the Salt Lake City Arts Council in partnership with Salt Lake City Public Lands. Updates, including conceptual designs and progress milestones, will be shared as the project develops. The reimagined work is expected to be completed this year, offering a renewed connection between art and ecology in one of Salt Lake City’s most treasured public spaces.
For updates on this project and other work by the Public Art Program, follow @slc_publicartprogram on Instagram. The Public Art Program is a service of the Salt Lake City Arts Council, a division of Salt Lake City’s Department of Economic Development.
