Dolphin Fountain

It took sculptor Bud Bottoms three years to sculpt and cast the dolphins, and another year to get funding to complete the base. The dolphins are oriented north, towards Milimol ’Aqiwo’ (the North Star), and the bronze plaque set into the north side of the fountain’s base was designed from a cave painting thought to depict the Milimol ’Aqiwo’. Bud Bottoms consulted with Coastal Band to design the three-tiered base, which reflects our view of the universe: divided into three worlds. The Upper World belongs to supernatural beings such as Sun, Moon, Lizard, Sky Coyote, and Eagle. The Middle World is occupied by humans. And the Lower World is inhabited by monsters.

On July 15, 1985, the Dolphin Fountain was unveiled. Coastal Band came to dance, pray, speak, and sing—honoring the work of Bud Bottoms (sculptor) and the Coastal Band members, like Madeline Hall, who had worked so tirelessly to make sure the city supported our Chumash worldview in its design. Spiritual leader Victor Lopez held a ceremony to call the dolphins while the Santa Ynez Dolphin Dancers came to support us and dance for us during this momentous moment. During this ceremony a powerful thing happened: for the first time anyone can remember bottlenose dolphins were seen swimming in the harbor.

On that dedication day, Dolphin Dancers lifted their eagle-bone whistles to the sky, their breath transforming into ancient melodies. Their wansaq (percussion instruments) struck against their thighs in rhythm with the pulse of the ocean, while their bodies rose and fell in graceful arcs—a human echo of dolphins cresting through waves.

It was then that fisherman Mike Moropoulos, weathered hands gripping the rail of his boat, witnessed a miracle stirring in the harbor waters: “For 30 years, I had never seen a dolphin while fishing our coastal waters. I’m not of a spiritual persuasion, but I later learned that the Chumash had been dancing, calling the dolphins.”