Fuente de las Tarascas

The Fuente de las Tarascas (Las Tarascas Fountain), also known as the Fuente de la Fertilidad (Fertility Fountain),[1] is a fountain, sculpture and landmark installed in Morelia, Michoacán, Mexico. The original work was created by Antonio Silva Díaz and Benigno Lara and was installed in 1931 in the intersection of Francisco I. Madero Avenue and Acueducto Avenue, in the historic center of the city. The fountain had three colorful concrete statues that depicted three bare-chested, kneeling women holding a basket of fruits. The sculpture was replaced in 1965 by another work.

Fuente de las Tarascas
The sculpture in 2012
Location
ArtistAntonio Silva Díaz (artist, 1931)
Benigno Lara (sculptor, 1931)
José Luis Padilla Retana (sculptor, 1984)
Year1931 (1931) (Díaz and Lara)
1984 (1984) (Padilla)
MediumConcret (Díaz and Lara)
Bronze (Padilla)
LocationMorelia
Coordinates19°42′10.3″N 101°10′56.7″W
Websitemichoacan.travel/las-tarascas-fountain

In 1984, a similar work, but sculpted in bronze by José Luis Padilla Retana, was installed where the original sculpture used to be placed. It features the same subject, but it is now believed to represent three Purépecha (externally known as "Tarascan") princesses named Atzimba, Eréndira and Tzetzangari. Like the original work, they are bare-chested and hold a basket of regional fruits.

History and description
The original fountain in 1948

The original fountain was installed next to the city's aqueduct in October 1931 and featured a colorful concrete sculpture. It was a work by Antonio Silva Díaz and Benigno Lara. It featured three bare-chested kneeling women holding a basket of fruits. They wore blue rebozos on their heads and skirts of the same color.[2] The meaning of the work was never explained and they never received an official name. Citizens commonly referred to them as "Fuente de las Indias" (Indians Fountain), but the government later promoted them as the "Fuente de las Tarascas" (Tarascans Fountain) after the indigenous group found in the state of Michoacán. The sculptures received criticism for being naked. On 25 August 1965, the sculptures were removed and were transported to the offices of the State Treasury, 800 m (2,600 ft) away from their original location. They were removed as the municipal president, Fernando Ochoa Ponce, considered them to be out of harmony with the area and lacked any value or meaning. They were replaced by a fountain named El Huarache by Ángel Díaz. Since 1967, the original sculpture is located at Expo Feria Morelia. At some point, the fair changed its location and the sculpture was moved to the new site. However, the fruit bowl was permanently damaged. It was replaced with a smaller version.[3][4][5]

Due to the unpopularity of El Huarache,[6] between 1983 and 1984, José Luis Padilla Retana was requested to sculpt statues similar to the originals. They feature three bare-chested women speculated to represent the Purépecha princesses Atzimba, Eréndira and Tzetzangari. According to the legends, Atzimba was exiled after she fell in love with a Spaniard explorer; Eréndira was a leader and a heroine that fought against the Spanish conquistadors; Tzetzangari filled Lake Zirahuén with her tears.[4] Their faces are based on that of a woman from Yunuén Island, Michoacán, while their bodies were invented by Padilla Retana.[2] They hold a basket of regional fruits (including apples, maize and avocados[7]) which they raise to the sky as a sign of prosperity, abundance, and fertility of the earth and mankind.[8] The statues were installed on 18 May 1984.[3] The replacement was paid for with people's donations.[6] El Huarache was moved instead to a garden in the colonia of Lomas Hidalgo, in Morelia.[3]

Impact
The replica in 2015

After the 1984 installation, the fountain became a landmark and one of the most emblematic places in Morelia.[8][9] The state government donated a replica by José de los Santos Sánchez Martínez to the government of Buenos Aires, Argentina, which was installed on 17 December 1998.[7]

In 2016, a book named Las Tarascas was published. It is based on research done by Elsa María Zertuche Zapata regarding the history of the modern fountain, from its installation where it replaced a previous statue, the rumors of the theft of one of the sculptures, as well as the political impact of the sculptures.[10][11]

Due to its location, the fountain receives constant vandalism and is a frequent site of protests.[12][13][14]

See also

References
  1. "4 impresionantes construcciones en Morelia para deleitar la vista" [4 amazing structures in Morelia to delight the sight]. México Desconocido (in Spanish). 12 November 2019. Archived from the original on 16 February 2022. Retrieved 15 February 2022.
  2. "Fuente de las Tarascas, monumento representativo de la ciudad de Morelia" [Las Tarascas Fountain, representative monument of the city of Morelia]. 20 Minutos (in Spanish). Notimex. 6 May 2017. Archived from the original on 30 December 2021. Retrieved 30 December 2021.
  3. "Fuente De Las Tarascas" [Las Tarascas Fountain]. Yo Amo Morelia (in Spanish). 18 June 2017. Archived from the original on 30 December 2021. Retrieved 30 December 2021.
  4. "'Las Tarascas'; fuente emblemática de Morelia" ['Las Tarascas'; Morelia's emblematic fountain]. El Debate (in Spanish). Morelia. 6 August 2017. Archived from the original on 30 December 2021. Retrieved 30 December 2021.
  5. Romero, Javier (6 October 2021). "¿Ya conocías la interesante historia de Las Tarascas?" [Did you already know the interesting history of Las Tarascas?]. CB Televisión (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 30 December 2021. Retrieved 30 December 2021.
  6. Manzo, Jorge (20 February 2022). "'Mi obra no ofende', señala creador de escultura Los Constructores, destruida en Morelia" ['My work does not offend', says creator of sculpture Los Constructores, destroyed in Morelia]. La Voz de Michoacán (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 1 March 2022. Retrieved 28 February 2022.
  7. "Las Tarascas". Buenos Aires Official Website (in Spanish). Buenos Aires. Archived from the original on 30 December 2021. Retrieved 30 December 2021.
  8. "Fuente de las Tarascas, maravilla de Morelia" [Las Tarascas Fountain, marvel of Morelia]. Al Momento (in Spanish). Morelia. 4 August 2021. Archived from the original on 30 December 2021. Retrieved 30 December 2021.
  9. "Destacan Legisladores del PRI Trayectoria del Escultor José Luis Padilla Retana" [PRI Legislators Highlight the Career of Sculptor José Luis Padilla Retana]. La Extra (in Spanish). June 2015. Archived from the original on 30 December 2021. Retrieved 30 December 2021.
  10. "El próximo viernes se presentará el libro histórico 'Las Tarascas'" [Next Friday, the history book 'Las Tarascas' will be presented]. Secretary of Culture of the State of Michoacán (in Spanish). Morelia. 2016. Archived from the original on 6 March 2022. Retrieved 30 December 2021.
  11. "Exponen libro histórico sobre los mitos y realidades de 'Las Tarascas'" [Historic book about the myths and realities of 'Las Tarascas' will be exposed]. MiMorelia (in Spanish). Morelia. 20 May 2016. Archived from the original on 30 December 2021. Retrieved 30 December 2021.
  12. "Las Tarascas amanecen de rojo en contra de la violencia hacia la mujer" [Las Tarascas dawn red for violence against women]. MiMorelia (in Spanish). Morelia. 25 November 2021. Archived from the original on 30 December 2021. Retrieved 30 December 2021.
  13. Piña, Ireri (2 December 2021). "Manifestaciones, vacunación y obras públicas 'desquician' Morelia" [Protests, vaccination and public works 'madden' Morelia]. Contramuro (in Spanish). Morelia. Archived from the original on 30 December 2021. Retrieved 30 December 2021.
  14. Gutiérrez, Armando (2 October 2021). "Grafitean la Antimonumenta y la Fuente de las Tarascas" [Antimonumenta and Las Tarascas Fountain graffitied]. El Sol de Morelia (in Spanish). Morelia. Archived from the original on 30 December 2021. Retrieved 30 December 2021.
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