Ceremony, festivities included in unveiling

BILL SPARKES/Acorn Newspapers NEARING COMPLETION- The new Janss Marketplace community fountain will honor the Chumash Indians. It's almost finished. An unveiling ceremony is planned for 3 p.m. Sat. Aug. 25. For more information, call (805) 495-4662.

Janss Marketplace will present the unveiling of its newly redesigned community fountain from 3 to 6 p.m. Sat., Aug. 25 in the fountain courtyard area of the shopping center at 215 N. Moorpark Road, Thousand Oaks.

The festivities will include an unveiling/ribbon cutting and dedication ceremony, Chumash dancers, live band, children's crafts, face painting, balloon artist and a bounce house.

The Oakbrook Park Chumash Interpretive Center will host a booth at the event.

The fountain was redesigned especially for children, with a new interactive fountain with a display of vertical water jets that dance to programmed lights and music.

The courtyard has stroller stalls next to the seating area.

The new community fountain was created around the 9-foot-tall bronze Chumash American Indian sculpture, now restored, titled "In Praise to the Great Spirit" created by local artist De L'Esprie.

The sculpture now stands on a 9foot rock and includes waterfalls, lights and fog.

The project began last year and cost more than $850,000.

Meg Emerson, artist and teacher, and several Moorpark High School students worked on the tile design and painting. Tiles hand-painted by children are incorporated into the seating area walls.