Where is the Floozie in the Jacuzzi?

The Floozie in the Jacuzzi is in Victoria Square, Birmingham, B1 1BD

 

In brief

River and Youth is a pair of bronze statues in the middle of Victoria Square, in front of the Council House and unveiled in 1993. It was by the artist Dhruva Mistry, as part of the artwork titled 'River, Youth, Guardians and Objects (variations). Due to fountain leaks in the 2000s and 2010s it was mostly turned off. Then the statue nicknamed as the 'Floozie in the Jacuzzi' by Brummies, was removed to storage between October 2021 and April 2022. The fountain was turned back on near the end of May 2022.

The Floozie in the Jacuzzi in November 2010. Photo by Elliott Brown

 

Floozie in the Jacuzzi - history

The remodelling of Victoria Square took place back in 1992 to 1994.

The square was officially reopened by Diana, Princess of Wales in 1993.

The sculpture by Dhruva Mistry is part of four artworks named collectively as The River, Guardians, Youth and Object [Variations].

It represents youth and eternity.

Engraved around the rim of the upper pool is a poem by Bettina Furneé are the following words from the poem Burnt Norton by T. S. Eliot:

And the pool was filled with water of sunlight,

And the lotos rose, quietly, quietly,

The surface glittered out of heart of light,

And they were behind us, reflected in the pool.

Then a cloud passed, and the pool was empty.

 

There was a water leak in 2008 and the fountains were turned off. Initially fixed in 2010 and turned on again.

The Floozie in the Jacuzzi in November 2010. Photo by Elliott Brown

 

But was another leak in 2013. So in 2015 Cofton Nursery planted flowers, making it more like the Floozie in the Flower Garden.

The Floozie in the Floral Garden (July 2015). Photo by Elliott Brown

 

In November 2020 during the 2nd lockdown, Cofton Nursery returned to removed the plants. And it is hoped that the fountain can be repaired and turned back on again in time for the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.

After the plants had been removed around the Floozie (November 2020). Photo by Elliott Brown

 

Work to remove the Floozie to storage and repair the fountains of River and Youth began in September 2021. Work stopped while the Birmingham Frankfurt Christmas Market was on during November to Decemeber 2021.

The Floozie before removal to storage (September 2021). Photo by Elliott Brown

 

The site was surrounded by scaffolding, plastic wraps and the Be Bold Be Birmingham hoarding artwork at one point.

Be Bold Be Birmingham hoardings and plastic wrap (December 2021). Photo by Elliott Brown

 

As of April 2022, these have all gone, and you can now see an empty basin from the top of Victoria Square.

Empty basin in Victoria Square (April 2022). Photo by Elliott Brown

 

The larger statue of River and Youth we all call the Floozie in the Jacuzzi was returned on the 7th April 2022. It would take another 7 weeks before the fountains were turned back on.

Return of the Floozie in the Jacuzzi to Victoria Square (April 2022). Photo by Elliott Brown

 

The fountains were turned back on during the 19th May 2022 by the Lord Mayor of Birmingham and Leader of Birmingham City Council.

Restored fountains from the Floozie in the Jacuzzi to Victoria Square (May 2022). Photo by Elliott Brown

 

A couple of days later, the fountains were off again, but was people sitting on the steps.

Seagull on the Floozie in the Jacuzzi in Victoria Square (May 2022). Photo by Elliott Brown

 

Another repair after the bubble bath incident. The fountains appears to be on again in June 2022, as seen from this view from the 18th floor balcony at 103 Colmore Row. But will it last?

Floozie in the Jacuzzi in Victoria Square - View from 103 Colmore Row (June 2022). Photo by Elliott Brown

 

One week later, it's raining, and no one was sitting around the basin of the Floozie. A view up to 103 Colmore Row from Victoria Square.

Floozie in the Jacuzzi in Victoria Square (June 2022). Photo by Elliott Brown

 

Connections by local artist Anjuli McKenna. Being painted for Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games on both sides of River and Youth (Floozie in the Jacuzzi). The Council will use CCTV to catch detergent culprits. View from 103 Colmore Row, during the Key to the City Birmingham project.

Floozie in the Jacuzzi in Victoria Square (July 2022). Photo by Elliott Brown

 

PoliNations was on during September 2022, part of the Birmingham 2022 Festival. While the fountain and water flows between both pools of River and Youth, there is flowers and plants outside for the first time since the plants were removed from the pools in late 2020.

Floozie in the Jacuzzi in Victoria Square (September 2022). Photo by Elliott Brown

 

During 2023, the fountains were turned off during the Public Realm works, but turned back on at the beginning of November 2023 for the Birmingham Frankfurt Christmas Market (which closed on Christmas Eve). The fountains were still on towards the end of the year.

Floozie in the Jacuzzi in Victoria Square (December 2023). Photo by Elliott Brown

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