Internationally renowned artist Armand Vaillancourt takes legal action to protect acclaimed artwork
Docomomo US/NOCA and partner organizations broadly support artist rights and believe that San Francisco should bias heavily in favor of patronage of the arts
On Friday, August 29, 2025, Docomomo US/NOCA and partner organizations were made aware that the legal team for Armand Vaillancourt demanded that San Francisco and related parties immediately cease and desist from taking any steps whatsoever that may endanger or damage the Vaillancourt Fountain (“Québec libre!”) at Embarcadero Plaza.
Docomomo US/NOCA’s stance on the “Embarcadero Plaza and Sue Bierman Park Renovation Project” remains unchanged. As a leading voice for the conservation of Modernist sites and structures in Northern California, Docomomo US/NOCA continues to advocate for a transparent planning process, the study of multiple design options—including robust preservation alternatives—and the protection of these significant public spaces. This includes perspectives on maintenance, funding, accessibility, and the importance of community engagement.
Embarcadero Plaza and the Vaillancourt Fountain must be preserved and adaptively reused for present and future residents, tourists, and passersby. We broadly support artist rights and believe that San Francisco should bias heavily in favor of patronage of the arts.
About Docomomo US/NOCA
Docomomo is an acronym for the DOcumentation and COnservation of buildings, sites, and neighborhoods of the MOdern MOvement. Founded in 1996, Docomomo US/NOCA is one of twenty regional chapters of Docomomo US.
Docomomo US/NOCA is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) membership organization that endeavors to increase public awareness of the Modern Movement. Committed to the principle that modern design merits the attention and preservation received by earlier periods, we maintain a continuous and constructive dialogue with national, state, and local preservation authorities and organizations and with building owners, developers, and designers in many disciplines.
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