friends of freedom

Platform Art, Inc. created Friends of Freedom to commemorate the Spanish-American War and Lakeland’s important role in this often-overlooked chapter of American history. The bronze monument’s sculpted imagery traces Cuba’s struggle for independence, America’s involvement, the mobilization of troops through camps in Lakeland and Tampa, and the pivotal Battle of San Juan Hill.

Lakeland hosted soldiers from five Army divisions—including units from New York, Massachusetts, Ohio and Kentucky—as well as the legendary Buffalo Soldiers, who played a critical role in the campaign in Cuba. Few American monuments interpret the Spanish-American War, and fewer recognize the Buffalo Soldiers’ contributions. Friends of Freedom preserves this history in the community where hundreds of soldiers were stationed before departing for Cuba.

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Artists Becky Ault and Mike Cunningham of Art Design Group developed the content, design and fabrication of the monument, while engaging Polk County high school students in the process. Through Platform Art’s signature educational program, students designed the narrative relief panels on the monument’s base and worked alongside professional artists in workshops exploring clay sculpting and bronze fabrication.

 

By combining art, history and education, Friends of Freedom demonstrates the power of public art to make national history visible, accessible and meaningful for future generations.​  Participating schools

Lake Region High School: Angela Fout & Hunter Wampler, art teachers; and

students Sydney Parker, Alexis Cameron, Natalya Negron and Angel Arenas

Santa Fe Catholic High School: Peoples and Lucile Pfund, art teachers; and

students Blaine Keller, Taylor Tidwell, Emily Dang and Jacob Velez

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