This week in history 11.5.15

Nov. 18, 1999

Public art is such a part of the visual landscape in Sarasota that often pieces go unnoticed. Hidden in the shade of the trees at City Hall, on the corner of First Street and Orange Avenue is Garden Sculpture 3. Simply named and of clean design, the Doris Leeper sculpture was purchased as part of the community’s Year 2000 celebration in 1999. 

Sculptor Doris Leeper, from New Smyrna Beach, has had work in collections ranging from Chase Manhattan Bank in New York City and IBM in Armonk, N.Y. as well as the National Museum of American Art in Washington, D.C. 

For the prices of $16,000 the city commission and its public arts board eased tension between the two sides and chose the piece. Most Sarasotans are familiar with public art — along with the criticism it often brings. 
Board member Pamela Sumner encouraged the city commission to “accept controversy over public art—indeed expect it—but to trust the process.”

Indeed, the city trusted the process and went ahead with the installation of the piece that still stands today. 

Nov. 17 1983

Sarasota County Sheriff Jimmy Dean Hardcastle was booked into his own jail. Hardcastle was charged with a felony and released on his own recognizance. After an hour of deliberation a grand jury indicted Hardcastle for Grand Theft of government transportation, a third-degree felong with a potential five-year prison term and a fine of less than $5,000.