A new statue in Central Florida is seeing mixed reception.
A statue of civil rights icon the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. was recently unveiled in Winter Park, with critics online claiming its proportions are "awkward."
The statue was designed by North Carolina artist Andrew Luy, who its committee selected from the arts, parks, and CRA boards. According to Hville Blast, Luy was chosen out of over 1,000 applicants
“I included a 9-foot-tall MLK — I wanted him to be larger than life because his personality was larger than life," he told the outlet about his vision.
Where is the new Martin Luther King Jr. statue in Florida located?
The statue can be found at Winter Park's Martin Luther King Jr. Park, located at 1050 W. Morse Blvd.
What does the MLK Jr. Florida statue look like? See the unveiling video
The bronze statue, called "The Ripple," depicts King dressed in a suit, holding a book in one hand while the other extends upward in a wave. In front of it stands a polished, knee-high wall inscribed with one of King's most famous quotes, "Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere."
Winter Park further describes the statue and the meaning behind its appearance on its social media.
"His outstretched hand is not only a gesture he frequently made while speaking, but it also symbolizes his calm, peaceful demeanor," the city wrote on Instagram. "On both sides of Dr. King, black granite memorial walls with concentric seating feature inscriptions of the former families that once lived on the park’s land."
The caption added that the city is pleased to offer such a "meaningful tribute for our community to honor the life and legacy of Dr. King."
What are people saying about Winter Park's MLK Jr. statue?
Since the statue was unveiled last month, some critics and residents have voiced their opinions, with many pointing out its disproportionate head, body and limbs.
"It looks awkward. It just didn't look up to the standards that Winter Park is so well known for," Jonathan Blount, co-founder of Essence Magazine, told Winter Park commissioners at a July 23 City Commission meeting.
"His head was too big, his arm was too big, and it looked really like a caricature of Dr. King and really didn't look anything like him," he told local NBC News affiliate WESH2. "Do it over. It just isn't good enough for a permanent, lifelong representation of someone that is just so important to our history."
Has the MLK Jr. statue artist spoken up about the comments?
Yes, he has. Luy told WESH2 that the feedback he received from committee members and attendees of the unveiling was overwhelmingly positive, but that he welcomes all feedback.
The city shared a letter written by Luy on Aug. 6, addressing feedback and describing the artistic vision behind the statue.
"This sculpture was never intended to be a hyper-realistic replica of Dr. King. It was conceived through an in-depth, iterative process guided by a committee of Winter Park residents, civic leaders, and cultural stakeholders," the letter said. "Together, we focused not only on physical likeness but on capturing the spirit, message, and enduring presence of a leader whose impact continues to ripple through time."
Luy explained that the adjustments were made for "symbolic reasons."
For example, enlarging King's feet and shoes were representative of his metaphoric "big shoes to fill," while his left arm was adjusted to emphasize the "weight and power" of the book held in that hand. His head was enlarged to maintain visibility from multiple vantage points in the park and surrounding streets.
"While we could have used 3D scanning or digital modelling to produce a highly accurate, photographic likeness, the stakeholders emphasized a different goal: to create a sculpture with love, care, and remembrance, not just precision," the letter read. "The final work reflects that intent. We chose to depict Dr. King in a stylized, larger-than-life scale."
Winter Park officials weigh in on the discussion
Mayor Sheila DeCiccio responded to concerns raised at the commission meeting, saying, "Maybe it didn't come out the way everybody had hoped it would." However, with the installation having cost $500,000, she said it isn't likely to change.
"I hear what you're saying, don’t know what we can do at this point. It was a very big investment," she said.