The sculpture of a man kneeling in the sand and
hugging it is a large piece, with an armspan of 101⁄2
feet. A second piece, a bronze-and-shell Native
American called “Calusa Man” followed. Many have
wondered where those pieces will go now that
the Theatre Building is closed, and we are happy
to report that Calusa Man has almost certainly
found a home in Sam Murphy Park. The next resting
place for Abrazo has yet to be determined, but
for right now he is staying with Sue Kruder, Paul’s
wife.
Emil tends to work primarily in bronze but lately
has been revisiting ceramics which for him harkens
back to his childhood spent in Boca Grande. His
diverse childhood was perhaps the impetus behind
his collection of anonymous, faceless human sculptures
that was shown at the Marc Straus Gallery
in New York City several years ago.
One such sculpture, titled “Star Suit,” was
created with the island in mind.
“If I were to sum up my experience of growing
up on Boca Grande it would be in the form of a
memory of floating in the shallows of the Gulf of
Mexico, weightless, adrift and silent, perfectly at
ease,” he said, “this being the inspiration for a
recent mirror polished stainless steel sculpture,
called Star Suit.”
At left, a stainless steel scupture called “Star Suit,” inspired by
Alzamora’s memories of floating in the Gulf waters of Boca
Grande. Below, one of his “anonymous” sculptures that was
featured at a gallery in New York.
March/April 2019 GASPARILLA ISLAND 51