ORLANDO, Fla. — A sculpture planned for the new Orlando Police Department Headquarters building has led to some disagreement over how appropriate it is.
The rendering shows a 15-foot 7-inch sculpture of a fingerprint by the artist Ralfonso. The art is titled "One of a Kind" and is one of roughly 40 submissions for a piece to complement the new Orlando police headquarters.
Records show the police preferred the fingerprint sculpture, but the city's art board had concerns about the message a fingerprint might convey.
"When you get locked up, you get fingerprinted. So, this image upon the front lawn of the new police station of what happens when you go in there, being locked up and being fingerprinted was a bit of a negative image," said Public Art Advisory Board co-chairman Jim Lussier.
Lussier said the panel recommended the other finalist called "Wings of Protection" by Linda Howard.
"We were not simply saying what we thought about one piece. We were comparing it to another. A dove of peace, a winged bird is going to make a projection of positive feelings and comfort and enveloping protection," said Lussier.
The debate comes at a time when police across the nation are struggling with image.
Lussier said that didn't play a role in the board's choice.
The new building won't be a jail.
"Any discussion is healthy discussion, because no one is going to like everything. So, I think both sculptures would've been a good choice," said Jennifer Quigley of See Art Orlando.
The city has set aside $125,000 for the work. It plans to display the piece near the entrance of the building.
The City Council approved the board recommendation.
The piece could be finished and displayed by next fall.
Despite initially supporting the fingerprint, Orlando police said they are excited about the winning sculpture and believes it will allow them to connect with the community.
WFTV
