In order to understand Felix De Weldon’s The Waving Girl, one must first understand the woman herself. Florence Martus was her name, born in 1869 on Cockspur Island outside Fort Pulaski. According to The Waving Girl Historical Marker, Florence spent 44 years greeting all ships that arrived or departed Savannah with a handkerchief by day and a lantern by night. Consequently, many rumors and legends arose about The Waving Girl. One of them being that she fell in love and became engaged to a sailor who promised that they would marry upon his return.
Florence Martus’ statue stands proudly at the east side of River Street. Her dress flows with the wind as she runs to greet every ship that enters the port with a cloth. By her feet, lays a quiet lantern waiting to be used by nighttime. Next to Florence, stands her dog alert …show more content…
Where visitors can sit and observe the barges peacefully make their way down the port. Designed to be seen from the river, Florence’s imposing built figure
Gianna 6 calls the attention of the sailors entering the harbor. Whether the statue narrates the story of a lady waiting for her long lost love or simply a lonely island girl seeking for company, the placement of the statue at River Street draws the viewer’s attention and invites people to project their own narratives onto it. The Waving Girl brings the past into a present context and create fantasies out of three simple elements.
When I first visited Savannah and walked around River Street I was amazed by the statue gesture and the beautiful sunset hitting the statue’s back. For a while I sat at the benches enclosing The Waving Girl and noticed how she welcomed the boats. Through my eyes, the statue projected and air of melancholy as I imagined she waved farewell to her lover who had left for the war. Slowly, her expression became stern, and the wind that blew her dress was
Florence Martus’ statue stands proudly at the east side of River Street. Her dress flows with the wind as she runs to greet every ship that enters the port with a cloth. By her feet, lays a quiet lantern waiting to be used by nighttime. Next to Florence, stands her dog alert …show more content…
Where visitors can sit and observe the barges peacefully make their way down the port. Designed to be seen from the river, Florence’s imposing built figure
Gianna 6 calls the attention of the sailors entering the harbor. Whether the statue narrates the story of a lady waiting for her long lost love or simply a lonely island girl seeking for company, the placement of the statue at River Street draws the viewer’s attention and invites people to project their own narratives onto it. The Waving Girl brings the past into a present context and create fantasies out of three simple elements.
When I first visited Savannah and walked around River Street I was amazed by the statue gesture and the beautiful sunset hitting the statue’s back. For a while I sat at the benches enclosing The Waving Girl and noticed how she welcomed the boats. Through my eyes, the statue projected and air of melancholy as I imagined she waved farewell to her lover who had left for the war. Slowly, her expression became stern, and the wind that blew her dress was