See One M&T Plaza Fountain, Buffalo, New York

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The fountain at the center of the pedestrian plaza on the Main Street side of One M&T Plaza in downtown Buffalo, New York is a work of Modernist art in itself, and specifically of renowned Italian-American sculptor Arieto "Harry" Bertoia (1915-1978). An untitled work composed of three tons of copper and bronze, it was installed on August 30, 1968 - just over a year after the completion of the building itself - in the reflecting pool in front of the building's Main Street entrance. Its undulating contours, which have earned it comparisons to a giant seashell, bird, or ocean wave, match well with the Expressionist oeuvre of architect Eero Saarinen, whose frequent collaborations with Bertoia began when they were classmates at the prestigious Cranbrook Academy and continued into their adulthood. The sculpture was designed to withstand Buffalo's famously severe winters and has done so remarkably well: since its installation it has only required refurbishment twice, most recently in 2010 under the supervision of Bertoia's son Val.

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