IN PICTURES: SCULPTOR TRAIL ARTIST VISITS HIS ‘WAVEHENGE’

Somerset Island Prep brought two groups of about 25 students each to Truman Waterfront Park last week to meet sculptor Jeff Sundheim, who created Wavehenge. CONTRIBUTED

Artist Jeff Sundheim had seen his large, arcing sundial sculpture called “Wave Henge” when it was installed in New York City’s Riverside Park. He had not seen its permanent installation at Key West’s Truman Waterfront Park until last week, and he was thrilled.

The sculpture, which Sundheim created with Damon Hamm, acts as a sundial and was installed in Key West in September 2020 as the southernmost stop on the Florida Keys Sculpture Trail. Four times a year, the Wave Henge shadow will fall on one of the included benches, during the winter and summer solstice and the spring and fall equinox.

Local arts patron and philanthropist John Padget and his late partner Jacob Dekker gave the dozen sculptures to form the trail to the Florida Keys.

 The sculptures were created by artists participating in the prestigious Art Students League of New York’s “Model to Monument” program. The works’ relocation and placement in the Keys is a collaborative effort involving the Florida Keys Council of the Arts and the Monroe County Art in Public Places Committee.

The sculpture trail stretches from MM 81 in Islamorada to the Truman Waterfront Park. 

Padget last week hosted a dinner for Sundheim at Salute on the Beach with the Florida Keys Arts Council director Liz Young, council president and schools superintendent Theresa Axford, as well as Tricia Eables of the Monroe County Art in Public Places committee and the Keys Weekly. 

While in town from New York, Sundheim also met with about 50 local high school students from Somerset Island Prep charter high school. The students and Sundheim met at the sculpture in the park for a discussion, Q&A and photos of the sculpture.More information about the Sculpture Trail is at keysarts.com.

Mandy Miles drops stuff, breaks things and falls down more than any adult should. An award-winning writer, reporter and columnist, she's been stringing words together in Key West since 1998. "Local news is crucial," she says. "It informs and connects a community. It prompts conversation. It gets people involved, holds people accountable. The Keys Weekly takes its responsibility seriously. Our owners are raising families in Key West & Marathon. Our writers live in the communities we cover - Key West, Marathon & the Upper Keys. We respect our readers. We question our leaders. We believe in the Florida Keys community. And we like to have a good time." Mandy's married to a saintly — and handy — fishing captain, and can't imagine living anywhere else.