During the March 1 meeting, the Key West City Commission commended retiring Art in Public Places (AIPP) board member Dr. Perry Arnold for his service on the board. Dr. Arnold was appointed to the board by Mayor Teri Johnston.
"Perry Arnold is the epitome of public service," AIPP Board Chair Richard Tallmadge is quoted in the commendation. "He is dedicated, thoughtful, and contributory. He served on the Art in Public Places Board for one reason. He wanted to help make Key West a better community."
Dr. Arnold's role on the board was to enhance and maintain the character of our island community through the aesthetic of public art; to create a physical and human environment that nurtures artists, arts organizations, and arts producers; to nurture and preserve cultural diversity consistent with and reflecting Key West's population; and to promote the inclusion of aesthetic considerations in local decision-making through advocacy, services, financial and technical assistance, and leadership in the community.
In addition to his role on the board, Dr. Arnold is recognized for creating a sculpted throne out of a downed olive tree in the wake of Hurricane Irma in 2017. The artwork is part of the Key West Botanical Gardens on Stock Island.
In the photo: Commissioners Mary Lou Hoover, Gregory Davila, and Jimmy Weekley, Mayor Teri Johnston, Dr. Perry Arnold, Commissioners Clayton Lopez, Billy Wardlow, and Vice Mayor Sam Kaufman.