“Uncommon Friends”
The sculpture “Uncommon Friends” was created and dedicated to county of Lee, by artist D.J. Wilkins in 1988. The sculpture depicted three friends whom resided in Fort Myers during the winter months. These friends were famous inventors and business men. Their names were Thomas Edison, Henry Ford, and Harvey Firestone. All three individuals were instrumental in making of innovations that made the quality of life better. The sculpture is designed with the three friends sitting by a campfire and with animals in the water, nearby. The reflection pool, that encircles the sculptures, has a diameter of 40 feet, while the island on which the sculpture sits, has diameter of 20 feet. The cast of the men were designed using cold cast aluminum because it would be able to with stand corrosion better. The scene of a campfire gave significance that represented the three friends spending time together. They were some of the earliest winter residents of Fort Myers and they helped establish Fort Myers as a place of travel for recreational purposes. Through this piece of work, Wilkins wanted to focus on the bonds that the friends shared and not their fame.
In the early days, the trio started taking camping trips to Florida. They would travel from the everglades to many other cities. They often had the company from other friends that included John Burroughs and James Newton, whom also have significant ties to Fort Myers. The sculpture scene depicted the three friends in attire consisting of suits because this is how people in the time era dressed. Along with the sculpture itself, the artist wanted to include many items representing indigenousness of
this area. These items included; plants and animals (alligator, fish, frogs, otters). The piece of work gave a representation of the life people could enjoy living in Fort Myers. The location, which is a place in a park, fits in with surrounding perfectly.
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