Jr John Allen

Sculptress Forgotten Jr John Allen

First published in 2018, this NEW, UPDATED AND EXPANDED EDITION of "SCULPTRESS FORGOTTEN" adds many new pieces to the enigma that was Joan Keller, the young artist who created one of the most iconic features of Coral Gables. The oversized busts of two firefighters, sculpted in keystone, have been a commanding feature of the former Police and Fire Departments (the present Coral Gables Museum) since 1938. While it was known the sculptures were the work of a young Joan Keller, but who she was and what became of her was unknown. In 2018, Executive Director John Allen and staff member Orestes Gonzalez decided to attempt solving the mystery of the elusive young artist. This updated and expanded edition chronicles for the first time the sad, yet fascinating life of this beautiful, yet forgotten artist, who was for a fleeting moment "The Cinderella Girl of the Florida Art World," while placing her life in context with the compelling story of America's challenges and triumphs through the mid-twentieth century.