Sarasota, Florida: Unconditional Surrender

The Big Smooch has been a controversial addition to Sarasota; folks either hate it or love it.

"Unconditional Surrender" Kiss Statue

We stopped by the statue yesterday and found a cherry picker and crane next to it. I asked the guy in the crane what they were doing and he said all he knew was that he was supposed to pick it up and load it on a truck. I grabbed some photos and when leaving saw a truck with a flatbed trailer trying to figure out how to get into the parking lot.

The sailor's shoulder was broken, so it could have been going out for repairs, or it may be on its way to a new location.

[Chuck, 06/18/2010]

Unconditional Surrender

Gail....This isn't art, but yet the pile of junked cars that were across the street last summer was? I think this ART should stay exactly where it is. The gentleman that is offering $500,000.00 to the city to leave it there should be commended!!!

[C Mina, 08/14/2009]

Hideous - The Kiss

The statue of THE Kiss ["Unconditional Surrender"] is comical and belongs at Disney World, not in a classy arts community like Sarasota. I was horrified when I saw that it had returned to our beautiful city. It has no relevance for the majority of people visiting here. If one would only apply some common sense, you would see that anyone who relates to this statue will be dead in another 10 years. Why mar the skyline and waterfront with this silly piece of so called artwork. Stop living in the past - the City needs to look forward. Besides, people pose in front of it because it is so silly and balloon-like in appearance. I would hardly call this a piece of art! Shame on the commissioners who wasted our money on bringing this eyesore back.

[Gail E. Jordan, 04/18/2009]

Unconditional Surrender

It's finally back! Of all the so called works of art we've had along our bay front, this is the only one us locals ever liked enough, in numbers, to want it to stay.

It was disappointing when the statue left for its trip to San Diego. So when I saw a crane setting it back up, I went home to get my camera. The crane was pulling away when I got back but you can see the snorkel lift that helped.

A big Hooray to the officials who got it back for us!

I suggest you spend a little time in the park watching others look at it. One thing everyone seems to do is look up her skirt! It's a source of amusement to watch people do this. Out of curiosity I did, too (blush), but I'm not going to say what I saw. You'll have to see it for yourself to satisfy your own curiosity.

[Terry Lamrouex, 10/22/2008]

Unconditional Surrender

I think this statue was perfect right where it was at Marina Jack's Bayfront. If it should return to Sarasota, what's wrong with putting it where it stood previously? I'm just sorry I didn't get a photo of it while it was here. Out of all the so called art placed in the Bayfront, "Unconditional Surrender" was by far the best.

[Cynthia Henry, 09/13/2008]