Ascension from the collection of One Columbia for Arts and Culture

Ascension, 1997

Rock

This “waterless waterfall” was created by landscape designer Rick Anderson in partnership with the Columbia Appearance Commission with assistance from the Leadership Columbia Class of 1997.

The artist said “that he had spent 150 to 175 hours examining green schist/metavolcanic rock and white quartzite at the Kennecott quarry in Ridgeway,” and that it would take him another 70 to 100 hours to arrange the sculpture in place. – From The State, March 4, 1997

The rocks are intended to appear as if they are “pushing themselves up out of the ground…as they would do naturally, if a city weren’t sitting atop them” They are arranged to represent the look of a waterfall. No water was used in order to avoid long-term maintenance issues.