Sidewalk Poetry
The Sidewalk Poetry project was initiated by the Key West Art in Public Places (AIPP) Board in 2012. The goal of the project is to spread appreciation for the Arts through the installation of winning poems on sidewalks throughout the City of Key West. The project was adapted from a community in Minnesota that successfully implemented a Public Art sidewalk poetry project. The AIPP Board began by issuing an open call for submission of poems.
Review Submissions
A subcommittee of the AIPP Board formed a jury to review the over 200 entries received. The jury chose 17 winning poems, the majority of which were written by Key West residents.
Financial Donations
Additionally, the subcommittee solicited private financial donations to help support the cost of the project. Those donations were tax deductible for the donors via the City’s 501(c) tax-exempt status. The installation of the Poems into the City’s sidewalks was completed by Key West Artist Craig Berube-Gray in 2015.
Poetry Locations
- Location 1: 428 Greene Street
"I Walk on Sand" by Kirby Congdon - Location 2: 800 Thomas Street and Petronia Street
"Loosely Owned Felines" by Eden Brown - Location 3: Bertha Street and S Roosevelt Boulevard
"Shoulder Season" by Marget Bizstray - Location 4: Varela Street and United Street
"Skin Gets Darker" by Isabella Braswell - Location 5: 3300 Block of North Roosevelt Boulevard
"Flip Flops" by Mark Faris - Location 6: Inbound on Palm Avenue Before Bridge
"Bridges to Key West" by Marsh Muirhead - Location 7: 401 Duval Street
"In Memory of Shel" by D. Sullins Stuart - Location 8: 300 block of Whitehead Street (Banayan Tree Area)
"Undressed by the Rain" by Diane Good - Location 9: Whitehead and Greene Streets (Audubon House)
"The Colors of Key West" by Fran Decker - Location 10: Spottswood Park at Seminary and Alberta Streets
"Haiku Number 2" by Janet Marston-Hartwell - Location 11: Lighthouse 900 Block of Whitehead Street (West Side)
"Of Writers and Poets" by David L. Sloan - Location 12: 900 Block of Whitehead Street - Close to the Southernmost Point
"Ninety Miles" by Jennifer Grafiada - Location 13: The Key West Cemetery (NE) Fence Along the 800 Block of Francis Street
"On Francis" by Mary Jo Trible - Location 14: 600 Whitehead Street
"Key West Afternoon" by Jonathan Woods - Location 15: 1000 Block of Kennedy Drive
"Best Medicine" by Constance Gilbert - Location 16: 600 Block of Margaret Street
"The Man Pedaled Along" by Mark Hedden - Location 17: 200 Margaret Street
"When the Sea Calls" by Frieda Feldman