Let their names be the last: Tampa Police Memorial

The silhouette of the uniformed police officer stands atop the memorial to the 29 Tampa Police Officers killed in the line of duty since 1895. Each officer made the ultimate sacrifice for the citizens of Tampa. Their names are inscribed in the Roll Call of Honor. The first officer to die in the line of duty was Officer John McCormick, who was killed September 25, 1895, right near this spot on Franklin Street where the memorial and the Tampa Police headquarters are located. And the last was Corporal Michael Roberts who died on August 19, 2009. Two names of officers who were killed in towns that were annexed after the city was incorporated were added in the front; Town Marshall Joseph Walker, of Port Tampa City, who died in 1915; and Officer Juan Nales, City of West Tampa, who died in 1920. This is a very powerful and moving tribute to these fine officers. It stands right in front of the entrance to the Tampa Police building. Click on the photo to enlarge it and see the sculptural elements just above the badge with black band.

This is a poem that is inscribed on the Tampa Police Memorial:

I never dreamed it would be me

my name for all eternity, recorded

here at the hallowed place, alas,

my name, no more my face.

"In the line of duty" I hear them say,

my family now the price to pay,

my folded flag stained with their tears,

we only had those few short years.

The badge no longer on my chest,

I sleep now in eternal rest, my sword

I pass to those behind, and pray they,

keep this thought in mind.

I never dreamed it would be me

and with heave heart and bended knee,

I ask for all here from the past;

Dear God, let my name be the last.

(Written by George Hahn, Los Angeles Police Department, Retired)

I had no idea: The story of Tampa's Cancer Survivors Park

This is a perfect example of a well-known art installation in Tampa that just about everyone knows of but few know much about. I discovered that there is much more than an awesome sculpture of men, women and kids, of every age, finding their way through a bronze maze. Here's the story: In 1978, Richard Bloch, co-founder and honorary chairman of the board of H & R Block, Inc. was diagnosed with “terminal” lung cancer. But it was not the end, and with the help of his wife Annette, he won his battle against cancer. Bloch and his wife then pledged to do all they could to help others with cancer. They would work to beat cancer, bring hope to those in treatment and to celebrate their recovery. The goal of the R. A. Bloch Cancer Foundation (click HERE for more information) is “limited to projects that will help people diagnosed with cancer have the best chance of beating it as easily as possible.” All services of the Foundation are free, and no contributions of cash are ever solicited.

I had no idea who was responsible for Tampa’s Cancer Survivors Park. The Foundation provided all the construction funds including perpetual maintenance. The Bloch's plan is to build a one in every city with over one million people in the metroplitan area throughout the U.S. and Canada. Each park is individually designed to complement the surrounding area. Tampa’s is pretty hard to miss. It is at one of the city’s busiest traffic intersections – across from the Raymond James Stadium, home of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, AND the George M. Steinbrenner Field, home to the New York Yankees Spring Training. It is located on the southwest corner of Al Lopez Park at the intersection of Dale Mabry Highway and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard. As the Blochs state, they wanted to do something for the living and this park is amazing in its design and beauty. The sculpture is very visible from the street but the rest you need to explore and enjoy. Bloch states: “Three fundamental elements were perceived. First is a sculpture as a focal point. Created by the renowned Mexican sculptor, Victor Salmones, it is eight life-size figures passing through a maze depicting cancer treatments and success. It is placed in the most visible point in the park for passers-by because it needs no explanation. People can walk among the figures, touch them, walk through the maze and generally visualize themselves being helped. It is moving. The second element in the park is a “Positive Mental Attitude Walk”. This is an area that a person can stroll through, meditate and read some 14 plaques; 4 are inspirational and 10 are specific suggestions on fighting cancer. The third element is The Road to Recovery. This consists of 7 bronze plaques with common sense advice to use during treatment. Other than these three components, each park is totally unique, being designed to complement the local environment. It wants to make a magnificent showing to the passer-by.”

The sculptor Victor Salmones was born in Mexico City in 1937. He attended the Universidad de las Americas, and put himself through the Instituto de Bellas Artes (Mexican National Institute of Fine Arts). In 1967, Salmones' fluid bronze "Adam" was awarded first prize at the Biennale Exposition of the National Museum of Modern Art. His work continued to win great critical acclaim at subsequent Biennale expositions, and in 1971, his life-size bronze "Narcissus" was honored with first place in the national art competition.

Victor Salmones rapidly gained international attention and was honored with one-man shows throughout the world. His work is in public and private collections in roughly thirty-eight countries.Victor Salmones continued sculpting until his death in 1989. He worked principally in bronze, using the centuries-old lost wax method of casting. Salmones claimed that this sculpture, "Cancer...There's Hope," was his finest, a “labor of love.

Exploding Metal Party Girl

I really enjoy making discoveries of new artwork. Whether the piece is public art that I have passed a million times and not paid much attention to or some hidden and obscure creation that's not on display, the hunt and Eureka moment of discovery make it worthwhile. If I have never seen it before, such as many of the large handpainted murals that I have run across, it's like a piece of gold found in a creek bed. This sculpture, metal and other materials, is roughly 6-7 feet tall. There were two of them, almost identical, and both are standing in a side yard of what must surely be the artist's home and studio. I couldn't resist grabbing a few shots.

Justice is quite the looker

Veritas et Justitia is the name given to this magnificent bronze statue installed in 2007 at the entrance to George E. Edgecomb Courthouse, 13th Judicial Circuit, in downtown Tampa, by the internationally-known artist, Audrey Flack. A contemporary interpretation of classical sculpture in the ancient Greek and Roman traditions, the artist created a classical figure but her presence is modern, forceful and incredibly alive. Very powerful. The statue, ten foot tall and weighing 2,000 lbs., is cast in bronze, patinated and gilded. Audrey Flack is a pioneer of Photorealism and a nationally recognized painter and sculptor. She holds a graduate degree and an honorary doctorate from Cooper Union in New York City and a BFA from Yale University. She has taught and lectured extensively. Her work is in major museums around the world, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Museum of Modern Art, the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, and the Whitney Museum of American. Notice as you click and enlarge the photo (and you must to appreciate this fine work) that the lady does not hold the scales of justice, as do most other statues of this kind, and is wearing a most interesting blindfold, not solid so her justice is truly blind, but has tiny slits for her eyes. The greenish cast to the bronze is intentional and is set off handsomely by the gold leaf and crown of stars. I hope you agree that Veritas et Justitia is a magnificent sculpture.