Love it or hate it, Sarasota's "Unconditional Surrender" statue will be missing from the city's waterfront for awhile. Just how long is not clear.
The nearly 3-story high statue that resembles a famous Alfred Eisenstaedt photo of an impromptu kiss between a sailor and a nurse in Times Square on V-J Day, was struck by a car on Thursday. The statue has stood along Sarasota Bay for years and is on loan to the city.
When it went up, the statue touched off a debate over "what is art" in the city known for it cultural treasures and institutions.
Sarasota released this statement on Thursday evening: "The City’s public art liaison determined the statue sustained significant fractures jeopardizing its structural integrity. "
Now it's up to the Sarasota Arts Foundation, the insurance company and the owner of the statue to figure out which steps to take next to repair the statue. It is one of a series of sculptures by Seward Johnson based on that iconic kiss.
The man who owns the statue, WWII veteran Jack Curran tells the Sarasota Herald-Tribune he just wants to make sure the statue is back in its usual spot along Tamiami Trail by the 67th anniversary of V-J day on August 14th.
