To help mark the first month of Sea Turtle Nesting Season in Miami- Dade County, the Town of Surfside unveiled Ké, a special public art project consisting of a curated nine-foot sea turtle sculpture honoring the Tequesta Indians who once inhabited Surfside and the Town’s love for the environment. Ké is located on the beach entrance at 95th Street and Collins Avenue.
Funded by Surfside’s Tourist Board, the project was completed in partnership with the Archeological and Historical Conservancy and Miami International University of Art and Design. The Conservancy was instrumental in securing the historical information for the Tequesta site and artifacts that were discovered in the area in the 1920s. Archeologist, Co-Founder and Tequesta expert Robert S. Carr, who was one of the leading voices on the Tequesta Miami Circle excavations back in the 1990s, presented the Town with details and images recovered from the site.
Design student Aylin Chaparro created one of the two final designs selected by the Tourist Board. The broader community ultimately voted for Chaparro’s artwork as the winning design. “Honestly, I have no words, this is such a special project” said Chaparro. “I never thought my work would be here, permanently exhibited.”
The sculpture was installed with a historical tour event on May 18 led by HistoryMiami’s Dr. Paul George that culminated with an unveiling. Attendees included Robert Carr, Surfside Mayor Shlomo Danzinger and other members of the Town Commission, Surfside Town Manager Andrew Hyatt, Communications Director Frank Trigueros and members of the Surfside Tourist Board.
“This project has been a labor of love given its significance, and has been in the works for some time. Honoring our first inhabitants through our Town’s adopted mascot considering that it represented “Grandmother Earth” in their cultures is the perfect tie-in to highlight our commitment to the environment” said Communications and Tourism Director Frank Trigueros.
