The Key West Art & Historical Society on Aug. 10 announced the donation of a culturally significant woodcarving by Cuban-American folk artist Mario Sanchez, given to the society by Holly S. Merrill. The work, inherited by Merrill from her mother, Scotti Merrill, depicts a traditional Key West funeral procession traveling along Center Street between Petronia and Olivia streets, passing in front of St. Peter’s Episcopal Church on its way to the Key West Cemetery.
“Scotti Merrill understood the importance of preserving the stories that make Key West unique, and Holly’s decision to donate this work continues that legacy in a meaningful way,” said Cori Convertito, curator and historian for the society. “Mario Sanchez had an extraordinary ability to capture the character and customs of Key West, preserving intimate glimpses of island life that might otherwise have been lost to time. We are honored that Holly has chosen to share a work that was part of her family’s history with the entire community, ensuring that it can be preserved, studied and appreciated for generations to come.”
The woodcarving portrays a traditional funeral procession for a local fisherman, Mr. Salinier, traveling along Center Street toward the Key West Cemetery. With its horse-drawn hearse, mourners and Welters Cornet Band, the scene offers a glimpse into Key West life and ceremonial traditions during the 1940s. As with much of Sanchez’s work, the carving captures not only a specific moment in the island’s history but also the customs and community traditions of Key West during an earlier era.
Sanchez, a Key West native, is among this country’s most recognized folk artists. The self-taught artist was born in Key West in 1908, the grandson of Cuban immigrants. In the 1940s, at the urging of his mother-in-law, he began creating intricate carvings depicting life in Key West as he remembered from his childhood. Of his work, Sanchez adopted as his motto: “Se que mi modesto arte no es bueno, pero gusta,” or “I know my modest art isn’t good, but it pleases.” Sanchez’s works are held in the permanent collections of the Smithsonian American Art Museum and the American Folk Art Museum in New York City.
The Sanchez woodcarving has been digitized and is available for viewing at kwahs.org/collections. More information is available from Convertito at 305-295-6616 x507 or cconvertito@kwahs.org
