Valiente Fine Art

The sculpture “A Grandmother’s Love” is dedicated to all the matriarchs who have devoted their love and lives to their families. It is made of limestone and bronze by the sculptor David S. Valiente in 2014. The sculpture represents a loving family unit composed of three generations with the grandmother being the center figure. The artist combines coral stone and bronze, contrasting the abstract texture of South Florida’s natural oolitic keystone with the smoothness and density of traditional bronze. Many of the coral pieces that are part of the sculpture were quarried on this property when they were excavating the underground parking garage of the present Riviera Health Resort building. Coral stone represents the old Florida feel of Coral Gables and George Merrick, the city’s founder.