A Florida sculptor has created a postitve outcome from some of the damage caused by Hurricane Irma. Instead of removing a tree the storm knocked down, he turned it into art for residents of Indian Rocks Beach.
- Florida sculptor turns Irma damage into art in Indian Rocks Beach
- Keith Carroll carved a Dolphin out of a downed oak tree
- Sculpture dedicated to Patt Plumlee of Plumlee Gulf Beach Realty
Plumlee Gulf Beach Realty is surrounded by 100-year-old oak trees--trees that have inspired a promise between mother and son.
"My mother has always loved those oak trees, so I have promised her I would keep them forever," Todd Plumlee said.
However, Hurricane Irma knocked down one of Pat Plumlee's beloved oaks.
When it was time to have the 16 foot stump removed, Todd Plumlee remembered pictures he had seen of a Florida artist carving sculptures from trees.
"We called him up, sent a picture of it to him and said 'Can you come out and do a Dolphin for us?," Plumlee said.
Melbourne sculptor Keith Carroll came to the rescue and spent a few days in Indian Rocks Beach carving the Dolphin named Patty, after Plumlee's mom.
"So instead of trying to cut it all the way down, we make something out of something that seemed to be bad. We turned it into art," Plumlee said.
Plumlee also plans to add a plaque to the base of the sculpture saying it's dedicated to all the victims of the 2017 storms.
Not only will it be a constant reminder, but a constant source of joy for the community and families on vacation. Everyone who crossed the bridge into town with pass right by Patty.
"We are really happy because we went from having this terrible, almost tragedy, for our little campus here, and we turned it into something good," he said.
The sculpture will continue to honor Patt Plumlee who is set to retire this week after 50 years.