Man & Woman Torso Statues

Nudity or Art? Key West has long been a haven for starving artists, poets, & writers long before Tennessee Williams & Ernest Hemingway arrived stamping their imprint on this island city’s culture.

This example of art begs me to ponder and wonder only replying with… “Hmmm!” I guess I’m just not hip enough to appreciate its artistic relevance here in a public park. If you can’t tell, these are an artist’s rendition of a female & male torso. Yes, the female is the one with the blue & yellow… uh, uh, uh… things on her upper body 🙂 while the male has its back tuned away from the photo for A GOOD REASON! 🙂

While you’re in the park, also check out the José Martí  Monument, All Wars Memorial, Vietnam War Wall Memorial & New York State Yellow Fever Civil War Monument previously blogged.

You inquisitive artistic type can find this example of freedom of expression in Bayview Park located at the corner of Roosevelt Blvd. & Eisenhower Drive in Key West.

José Martí Monument

José Julián Martí Pérez (January 28, 1853 – May 19, 1895) was a Cuban national hero and an important figure in Latin American literature. In his short life he was a poet, an essayist, a journalist, a revolutionary philosopher, a translator, a professor, a publisher, and a political theorist. Through his writings and political activity, he became a symbol for Cuba’s bid for independence against Spain in the 19th century, and is referred to as the “Apostle of Cuban Independence.”

Born in Havana, Martí would travel extensively in Spain, Latin America, and the United States (particularly in Florida) raising awareness and support for the cause of Cuban independence. Martí is considered one of the great turn-of-the-century Latin American intellectuals.

Martí loved Key West as seen in the photo above that reads upon the monument “The Cuban Liberty Apostle wished to offer to the people of Key West what was left of his heart”. You can find the José Martí monument in Bayview Park here in Key West on José Martí Drive on the corner closest to the Horace O’Bryant Middle School.