Unconditional Surrender deadline looms

With less than a week to go before the City Commission-imposed deadline for an agreement, the owners of the Unconditional Surrender sculpture flew into town Friday to meet with city leaders.

Paula Stoeke, director and curator of the Sculpture Foundation, sat down with City Manager Bob Bartolotta and City Attorney Bob Fournier to try to work out an agreement.

Stoeke said after the meeting that some progress was made and that she believes the two sides will reach a consensus soon.

A World War II veteran wants to buy the sculpture, which resembles a famous Life magazine photo of a sailor kissing a nurse on V-J Day, and donate it to the city, with the condition it stay on the bayfront for at least 10 years.

The City Commission agreed to accept the donation, but required the Sculpture Foundation to secure licensing from Time-Life.

The Sculpture Foundation has been reluctant to do so, because the artist’s contention is that he did not copy the famous photo.

Stoeke wouldn’t say if she was going to budge on that issue. She also wasn’t sure if a complete agreement would be reached by the Jan. 31 deadline, but believed enough progress was made to satisfy the city.
Commissioners had said if the impasse wasn’t cleared up by the deadline that Unconditional Surrender would be removed from the bayfront in May.

Contact Robin Roy at [email protected].