SARASOTA – Sarasota’s most iconic statue may be ‘Unconditionally Surrendering’ its waterfront home.
At a meeting Wednesday, Sarasota’s Public Art Committee unanimously recommended to permanently remove the “Unconditional Surrender” statue to the Sarasota Sahib Shriners campus at 600 N Beneva Road.
The Shriners have agreed to pay to move, maintain, and keep the 26-foot-tall statue. The Public Art Committee would also like to include educational information about the statue in regards to the controversy involving sexual assault.
“Our decision to include support for those who have experienced sexual assault in the past. It’s very tantamount in this moment in time that the acknowledgment is made. This is our sense of being able to create a middle ground so that the veterans feel the support and acknowledgment and the status that they deserve as well as those who think that there is more to this story,” said Sarasota Public Art Committee Member, Josh Botzenhart.
If the City Commission agrees in September, Sarasota could loan the sculpture to the nonprofit.