Obama Presidential Center Will Pay Homage To His Mother With Sculptural Fountain

Earlier this June, the forthcoming Obama Presidential Center allowed us a peek into its sprawling museum and public spaces, with details of the exhibits and gardens slated to grace the building once it opens its doors in 2025. 

Now, former president Barack Obama has revealed that a special sculptural fountain has been commissioned for the center’s Water Garden, with one of his favorite artists Maya Lin—who previously worked on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial—tasked to create a stunning centerpiece. 

To make the sculpture even more significant, the stone water feature will be named in honor of the president’s mother, Ann Dunham, who is said to have been the biggest influence on his life. 

“She believed strongly in the power of human connection and the inherent dignity in all of us, values she instilled in her children. Decades later, a commitment to those same values would inspire millions of Americans to join a movement that carried President Obama to the White House,” the statement said of Dunham. 

The Ann Dunham Water Garden will be a special place within the Presidential Center where families can “enjoy a quiet moment of reflection, children can go for a splash through the water fountain, and the community can come together for intimate performances.” 

Take a look at a touching video of President Obama and his mother below. 

[via The Art Newspaper and Obama Foundation, images via Obama Foundation]