The Statues of the Southernmost Point

The statues have been up for a few weeks now and the locals have become very vocal. As often occurs in Key West, citizen’s opinions can get down right controversial and forceful. One of my favorite morning musings, over my first cup of coffee, is to read the Opinion page and Citizen’s Voice section of the local newspaper. It can be a sobering experience!

It seems that a local artist, reportedly of immense inherited means, has a propensity to create bronze sculptures. He has a few that he offered to donate to the city of Key West, but they declined the offer. This then spurred many local residents to voice their opinion that the city was being unfair to this local artist.

However, there is always more to a story than normally gets “opinionated” in local newspapers and trivial bar talk. The city’s objection was to the location that the artist wanted his statues placed, not to the statues themselves. The artist wanted the statues placed next to the Southernmost Point Marker at the corner of Whitehead Street and South Street, one of the most popular tourist photo spots in Key West.

I remember when I first came to Key West several years ago on a vacation. My girl friend & I (now ex-girlfriend) had our picture taken next to the Southernmost Point Marker. It was one of those “Must See” attractions, since nowhere else has one. It is still a very popular event and people line-up daily to take their turn with the Marker.

After many weeks of right & left opinions, editorial outcry and vocal harassment, the City gave-in and approved a trial. The statues were placed on the Southernmost Point. I have to wonder if anyone knew what these statues looked like before the outcry and trial period was approved.

So I took a scooter ride to the point the other day. It just so happens that “the artist” reportedly lives in a grand waterfront house with sweeping views of the tranquil blue Atlantic Ocean… only steps from the Southernmost Point. I assume he happily peers out of his windows to see his creations setting in-front of the Southernmost Point Marker.

Now I try to be pragmatic in my viewpoints. I admit I can often make a first impression opinion, but eventually I consider the pros & cons to the best of my ability and make a more lasting opinion. Let me give you my view of a friendly conversation between a tourist and a friend back home:

“What is this photo?” says the friend. “That’s us at the Southernmost Point”. “Oh, is that what that thing is behind you that we can’t see in the photo”? And the tourist replies, “Yea”. “Well, who are these people in the photo with you?”, the friend asks. “They are these statues of tourists, I guess”, the tourist replies. “Seems strange, you got your picture taken with statues of tourists.” “No, we got our picture taken with the Marker.” “Well, I can’t see the marker. Seems stupid to me!”

I personally thought a bronze statue would look… “bronze”. But these statues are painted to look very life-like, at least in a photo. In real life they don’t move or blink and look kinda like full-size blow-up dolls with stiff clothes

Where the statues are positioned you have no choice but to include them in your photo. If you want your photo to include the Marker and it’s identifying information, and you stand next to the Marker, you will be behind the statues.

One local recently wrote in the local paper that he went to the Point and watched for 15 minutes. His conclusion was that everyone liked the statues and they should stay there permanently. I have a different view.

If I went to visit the Washington Monument and these statues were there, I’d still take a picture for posterity. Would I like it. Who cares? I’ll never take another picture there, but I can say I’ve been there and show all my friends the picture.

The only people that go to the Southernmost Point are tourists. They’ve never been there before, and don’t know what it looked like before the statues. Of course they are not going to leave because of the statues. They are going to take a picture and they will probably never be there again.

Personally, I don’t like them at the Southernmost Point. I believe they represent a big ego for the wealthy artist, whose home is right next to the point. Secondly, they do not look like statues to me. They look more like frozen people that need a drink at happy hour. I very simply do not understand what they have to do with the Southernmost Point of the United States. I believe the artist should put them in his yard with a “For Sale” sign. But then, maybe that’s why he wanted to “donate” them. Who the hell would buy them?

I’m glad I still have that photo without the statues, even if it is with an ex-girlfriend!