If one man’s junk is another man’s treasure, then the late Key Largo resident Stanley Papio was a treasure hunter extraordinaire. And ultimately, he became a treasure creator — crafting some of the edgiest and most eclectic metal sculptures of his generation.
Renegade artist Stanley Papio is captured on camera in Key Largo in 1977. (Photo provided by the Florida Department of State, Division of Library & Information Services)
As a pioneer of recycled art, Stanley was also well ahead of his time. But when he settled in Key Largo in 1949, he was just a former amateur boxer and wrestler who opened a welding business on his property.
That seemingly mundane business evolved into a far more imaginative pursuit. He began creating “junkyard art” constructions welded together out of scrap metal from recycled car parts, appliances, beds, pipes and other discarded iron and steel.
Much to the dismay of his neighbors, he encouraged people to drop off decrepit cars, washing machines and other “art supplies” in his yard for future use. Nearby residents were incensed, but his skill and offbeat imagination blossomed.
Stanley’s welded creations, blending satirical social commentary and gritty whimsy, often represented actual people, animals or objects. Eventually the artistry overran his property and morphed into a roadside exhibition that he dubbed Stanley’s Art Museum.
By the time he died in 1982, Stanley Papio’s visionary craftsmanship was beginning to earn him a bit of notice from critics, collectors and even museums. Much of his work was donated to the Key West Art & Historical Society after his death. Today his pieces are acclaimed for their inventiveness and humor, and recognized as culturally important American artwork.
In the spirit of Stanley Papio, Steve King works on an intriguing entry for the Papio Kinetic Sculpture Parade. (Photo by Nick Doll)
Fans of “outsider art” like Stanley’s can celebrate the renegade metal sculptor’s legacy Saturday, May 14 — with a people-powered parade of mobile sculptures crafted in the spirit of his extraordinary creations.
Spearheaded by the Art & Historical Society, it’s called the Papio Kinetic Sculpture Parade. It’s expected to include colorful sculptural floats, tricycles with exotically costumed riders, fantastically decorated bicycles and other moving works of art — all powered by human effort alone.
The zany procession will begin at noon at Key West’s Custom House Museum, with Papio-inspired artisans and their kooky kinetic creations following a route along the entire length of the island’s Duval Street.
But the end of the parade doesn’t mean the end of the art-filled weekend. Floats and other parade creations will be moved to Fort East Martello Museum, where a special display will be staged until 7 p.m. Saturday and from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Sunday.
And Saturday evening, art lovers can attend a once-in-a-lifetime event: the grand opening of a permanent Papio exhibit at the museum. It will feature more than 100 of Stanley’s sculptures and three-dimensional constructions, ranging from the “Bowlegged Bride” to the “Two Faced Woman.”
Stanley Papio’s offbeat creations will soon be showcased in a permanent exhibit at Fort East Martello Museum. (Photo by Carol Tedesco)
Fort East Martello Museum is a fitting setting for the exhibit, because it’s as intriguing as any Papio piece. In fact, it’s the best-preserved example of the Martello style of military architecture in the United States, with eight-foot-thick granite walls and a central tower.
Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the fort-turned-museum houses an amazing collection of Key West and Florida Keys artifacts and exhibits.
(It’s also the home of Robert the Doll, an “artifact” with a haunting history and surprising Facebook following, but that’s another story.)
Stanley Papio’s work is an eclectic celebration of found objects. For fans of renegade art, kinetic creativity and the joys of recycling trash into treasures, there’s no better place to be in mid-May than Key West — to salute the legacy of a true Florida Keys original.
