WSSC Headquarters, Laurel, MD.

10′ x 7.5′ x 20′

Bronze

1992

This heroic-scale figurative bronze fountain celebrates the employees of the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission (WSSC). It bursts from the floor of the lobby at their headquarters in Laurel, Maryland, and embodies themes of labor and multiracial collaboration.

The original RFQ did not specify the subject matter of the fountain, but after researching the WSSC, it became clear just how vital the workers are—and how much responsibility is involved in keeping water flowing to the public 24/7, regardless of weather conditions.

The sculpture, located at the entrance to the headquarters, highlights WSSC’s dedicated workers. This dramatic fountain reveals a broken 18-inch horizontal gate valve from which water pours, as if the lobby floor itself has been excavated.

A specialized tool, tucked into one of the men’s back pockets, can be recognized only by those familiar with the trade. This device helps workers locate the source of a break by allowing them to listen closely to the water and determine, based on sound alone, where the rupture is. The two workers straining together embody the strength and solidarity that emerge through shared labor.