The Friendship Fountain (1987) James “Bud” Bottoms and Octavio González Gutiérrez

The Friendship Fountain by James Bottoms and Octavio González Gutiérrez on the Malecon

One of the best-known sculptures in town, this piece depicts three jumping dolphins and has an interesting story to tell.

Puerto Vallarta became a Sister City with Santa Barbara CA on June 12th, 1973. over the years citizens of both communities have had all kinds of positive exchange, humanitarian missions, sojourns, donations and more. See website.

A friendship plaza was created, including this, The Friendship Fountain or Dancing Dolphins Fountain, which has now been moved behind the Arches to one side of the Naval Historical Museum.

The Friendship Fountain (Dancing Dolphins Fountain), Malecon, Puerto Vallarta

Dolphin Family, Stearns Wharf, Santa Barbara, California

This sculpture is similar to a bronze sculpture in Santa Barbara which he designed called the Bicentennial Friendship Fountain, the one in Puerto Vallarta is based on it, but in a different layout.

James “Bud” Bottoms (1928-2018) was the artist that created the sculpture elements and Octavio González Gutiérrez was in charge of the sculpting work (foundry) and putting it together.

Fuente de la Amistad Plaque 1987

Octavio González mentions that the elements were sent separately and he was left with the task of putting it all together, so he created the layout as he most saw it fit and as he liked it.

The Friendship Fountain (Dancing Dolphins Fountain) by James Bud Bottoms and Octavio González Gutiérrez (1987)

I feel the original sculpture in California has an air of dynamics and movement, plus teamwork, whereas the Vallarta version has more of a feeling of love and tenderness. I like them both.

The fountain and sculpture were finished in 1987. The artist himself calls it “The Dancing Dolphins Fountain”.

Rock art of the Chumash people, Santa Barbara County, USA

The use of dolphins is inspired by a Chumash Indian myth in which the Earth Goddess, Hutash creates a rainbow bridge, Wishtoyo, to help the Indians cross over to the mainland, along the way some looked down (despite being told not to do so) and fell off the bridge, to prevent them from drowning they were transformed into dolphins and since then the Chumash have considered them as brothers.

You’ll find it on the southern end of the original Malecón, beside the Naval Historical Museum and right by the Aquiles Serdan Amphitheater and The Arches.

James “Bud” Bottoms was a Californian sculptor and environmentalist that lived in Santa Barbara. James Alfred Bottoms was born on January 28, 1928, in Los Angeles, CA, USA. Studied art at Jefferson Machamer School of Art in Santa Monica (1947-48) and at the University of California-Santa Barbara (1948-52). “Bud” Bottoms created monuments and fountains not only in Puerto Vallarta but also in Toba City, Japan and Dingle, Ireland. A considerable amount of his artistic work is based on sea mammals that were inspired by his love of diving and snorkelling and often combined them with humans symbolizing our basic interrelationship. ​The artist passed away peacefully in the comfort of his home, September 23, 2018.

Octavio González Gutiérrez is a Mexican sculptor best known for his Vallarta whale. He was born in Tepatitlán de Morelos, Jalisco. Started off in the arts drawing portraits and his first sculpting jobs were busts. He learnt his foundry techniques in Santa Barbara and Berkeley and opened his first workshop in Puerto Vallarta. The famous singer Vicente Fernández is one of his biggest fans and has bought many of his pieces. He has sculptures all over Mexico (La Paz, Cancún, Ciudad de México and more) and some in the USA (Chicago & Seattle).

Author: M. A. Gallardo