Mom shines extra bright in stainless steel

I thought this stainless steel sculpture was most appropriate for Mother’s Day. (Can’t you just see your mom in it?) Entitled Family of Man, the 13-foot high artwork was created by artist Geoffrey Naylor (1928-1997). Born in Heysham, England, Naylor studied at Leeds College and then at Hornsey College of Art in England. He came to the United States and obtained his Masters of Fine Arts degree from the University of Illinois. His work is in a number of private collections, plus the collection of the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. (my hometown), the University of Florida and the Columbus Museum of Art. A painter as well as creator of large indoor and outdoor metal sculptures, Naylor taught at Florida Southern College in Lakeland, Florida and was a professor of art at the University of Florida in Gainesville. Although my mom isn’t easily identifiable in Naylor’s work, I know she’d appreciate that I was thinking of her and every mother throughout the world. I'm sure she's the one holding us all together...and smiling at her beloved water, seagulls and Tampa cityscape. Moms all shine extra bright on this day as we honor them. Family of Man is part of the City of Tampa's Public Art Program and stands on Bayshore Boulevard just north of Gandy Boulevard. You must spend time with it. Stop on the median and enjoy the play of light off it surfaces at different times of day. Notice the closeness and interplay of mom, dad and their two children joined in stainless steel. It’s very cool (after the sun goes down, otherwise in our searing sun it is anything but cool.)