ThPicture this, V-J Day celebration in New York City, August 14, 1945, Alfred Eisenstadt takes a photo of an un-identified soldier embraced in a kiss with Edith Shain a nurse. Life Magazine puts this iconic moment in time on their cover. Eisenstadt's career will never be the same. Sure pictures of Adolf Hitler meeting with Mussolini were big, as well as Hemingway, and Sofia Loren, but nothing will ever hold a candle to "The Kiss".
In 2005 Sarasota's Island Park bay front was graced with a 26 foot aluminum sculpture by Seward Johnson called the "Unconditional Surrender". Controversy plagued the city, when a public art committee declared that the statue was not art, but "ornamental and decorative" which disqualifies it from being in the cities public art collection.. Veterans groups immediately began petitions to save the statue. A private citizen later donated $500,000 to the city to save what I believe to be a work of art. New York City, San Diego, and Key West also have featured "The Kiss."
So why am I telling you all of this? My 9 year old daughter Molly loves this statue. We have to ride by it every time we are in Sarasota. Every Disney princess kisses her prince and this is just a fairy tale reminder to every little girl.
Molly can look at "The Kiss" any time she wants now. She has 8x10 black & white photo of the statue taken by my step-dad hung in her room. I also bought her a little image of the real picture last summer while I was in D.C..
Ah, the romance....
