The  Background Story and New Facts

This is a follow upand results of my first article dealing with the controversial sculpture of the 26 ft Sculpture of the famous pose of a Sailor kissing a Nurse at the end of WWII.

Many remember that  photo taken by Alfred Eisenstaedt ?,..Well  this pose and subject was reproduced, in several versions and sizes by the sculptor in his own foundry in New Jersey. In fact there are mini models of the statue available. ( This is something I recently learned as more facts have surfaced in the past weeks.)

So,..  here in Sarasota, Florida it has been a very hotly contested debate between the art  committees and  the general,..albeit, older residents of our fair city,..said city, known for its  Art and Cultural  venues, the former, claiming it’s not  really” ART”, the latter saying its piece of history and should be honored and should stay put right where it is now.

So,.. an anyonomus person has offered to buy it,…price $500,000, and then give it to the city, with stipulations to where it would be staged. 

 Best Advertising  Ever 

I’m thinking this is one of the most fortuitous circumstances for a small city that relies quite a bit on tourism’s input, given the state of the economy, free advertising reigns supreme.

 This has been in the Herald Tribune’s newspapers, cable, and other news networks, oh,.. and don’t forget the Internet especially,..you can’t buy this kind of  exposure. I’d surmise there were many emails  flying across the “net”  from our Northern snowbirds and more,… favorite vistors, the Canadians and Europeans.

The Fate is Sealed for the Sculpture,..or not **see below

The vote has finally come in after so much brouhaha over the fate of the sculpture created by artist J. Seward Johnson, heir to the  company who made all those baby products all of us baby boomers remember so well. 

It was on September 8 when the public hearing took place. The Art community against the “Greatest Generation”, the senior populace,.. (for those too young to associate that phrase.)

 Some of those seniors wearing  T shirts emblazoned with “Save the Sailor “, …and worn  proudly I might add, came to fight for the right to keep their symbol of a victory and a time gone by.

Ah,..the sweet smell of protest hung in the air !  ( I am of the 60’s protest generation),… They made me so proud. Yes,..there may be snow on the roof ,..but there’s still fire in the heart.

So many were heard from, so passionately, that commissioner  Fredd  Atkins, proclaimed, quote,  ”I can’t remember anything that has happened in the City of Sarasota that has invigorated us like this in my life. This is amazing.”

The votes came in  3 to 2  and  in the end the Sailor and Nurse get to stay for the next 10 years in that most prominent location , the bay front,…uh,..maybe read on.   

The Anonymous Donor Revealed

For months whispers and speculations flew about an anonymous philanthropist.  He was offering to buy “Unconditional  Surrender and then give it to the city. It was a well kept secret since his identity was just now revealed to the public at the  hearing. 

So, the city accepted this ”gift” from a private gentleman by the name of,.. Jack Curran, who  purchased  the Sculpture for $500,000. with the agreement to keep it exactly where it  stands. No ,..he is not rich or wealthy, not a jet setter by any means, but a man who was a WWII veteran and who used his estate for this purchase. 

In past articles it was stated the city would also benefit from this sale to the tune of $25,000, a winning situation, I think,.. well….. for most of us. 

The Heat and the Passion Still Apparent.**  

Just when you thought it was safe to read the Op Eds , there it is the controversy and outcome still in debate mode. Protesters calling names and bemoaning that our bay front is now tacky looking, dangerous, and an eyesore.

Well ,.before I could hit the send button on this it’s …” Hold the presses!” This may not be a done deal after all.

It seems the dissension grows not wanes. Some problems keep popping up such as, maintenance, safety, copyright infringements and still ,…placement of  the sculpture.  The resistance persists, as of  Sept 10. the  reports still coming in and is on- going as I write this.

 To see this and more go the Sarasota Herald Tribunes  link here.   http://www.heraldtribune.com/article/20090909/ARTICLE/909091051

To see my prior article link here  http://quazen.com/arts/visual-arts/art-sculpture-controversy/

It makes for a good read. 

My Opinion

I  love this town but please,.. a reality check is needed here. Don’t overblow a non situation for

there are,.. unfortunately, a few eyesores in my fair city, but this aforementioned is not one of them.

We have huge empty weedy spaces surrounded by ugly, rusting chain-link fences on our busy gateway to the  Bay front, Rt. 41,. that will assail any tourists eyes, well  before a colorful, fun, and  memorable sculpture will.  

Long Live the Sailor and  Nurse    

 Although I will never be famous, my artwork has made others happy, so I am pleased with my contributions such as they are.  You can see my website   www.anythingairbrushedart.com