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Goddess statue graces new parkBy AMY WIMMER © St. Petersburg Times, published November 5, 2000 SOUTH PASADENA -- The city's newest resident was unveiled Friday, in all her bronze and gold-leafed glory.
The 300 or so people gathered in the garden reacted as if they were spectators at a fireworks display: "Oooh." "Aaah." "She's beautiful." First things first: The name is pronounced ga-LA-te-a. Other variations of the pronunciation have made their rounds in South Pasadena in the months leading to the statue's arrival. On Friday, the Rev. George Patides of the Greek Orthodox Church of St. Stefanos in St. Petersburg set the record straight. She shares something in common with her benefactor, Galatea Lebus, a longtime South Pasadena resident who died in 1997 at the age of 90. Both were named for the goddess Galatea who, according to Greek mythology, was a statue molded by Pygmalion, the king of Cyprus. Pygmalion fell in love with her as he sculpted the ivory statue, tucked her into his bed and brought her gifts. Finally, Aphrodite gave the statue life when Pygmalion kissed her ivory lips. "He didn't think there could be a woman that could be perfect except for the woman that he sculpted," George Cretekos, Young's assistant, said at the ceremony. "And sure enough, one of the gods gave Galatea life, and Pygmalion had his perfect maid." On Friday, Mayor Fred Held joked, the Greek gods granted South Pasadena beautiful weather for the ceremony. Flanked by city commissioners, a representative from the office of U.S. Rep. C.W. Bill Young, R-Largo, newly elected state Rep. John Carassas, city staff, and dozens of South Pasadena residents, Galatea was the main attraction of Friday's annual South Pasadena Stroll. After walking around the block, listening to the myth of Galatea and getting a first glimpse at the statue, South Pasadena residents enjoyed baklava, Greek wedding cakes and other refreshments at Duryea Park. Mrs. Lebus left the city $1-million for the Greek-inspired park and requested that it be called Galatea Garden. As instructed in her will, the inscription at the foot of Galatea credits Clifford Herring, Mrs. Lebus' longtime beau, as Galatea's benefactor. In reality, Herring's money covered only one-fourth of the cost of the $100,000 statue, and Mrs. Lebus' money was used to cover the rest. The park features sabal palms, live oaks and, in a tribute to its Greek inspiration, black olive trees. Several fountains spit water into the air, and water lilies are planted in a reflecting pool. The seats of a small amphitheater surround the park's largest fountain, and several benches are positioned beneath shade trees. George Denerges, a friend of Mrs. Lebus who attended the park dedication ceremony, said she would have been thrilled with the park and the statue. He described her as a "stunning woman, appearance-wise and socially, with personality-plus." "She would be delighted," Denerges said of the park. "This is her cup of tea." In addition to the Greek garden, South Pasadena also has adopted the sister city of Karlovasi on the island of Samos in Greece. Fonda and Evelyn Poole, winter residents of South Pasadena who also spend part of the year in Karlovasi, helped translate for city officials and residents when eight people visited the Greek sister city a few weeks ago. "I think it's a beautiful idea, and it's so symbolical," Mrs. Poole said of the park. Galatea is the work of Audrey Flack, a sculptor known for her work in depicting goddesses. Vincent Ahern, coordinator for public art at the University of South Florida, said Galatea is a gem for a small city like South Pasadena. "She is an artist of extraordinary vision and talent who has brought to the forefront issues that not only relate historically, but relate specifically to the contribution of women," Ahern said. "She expresses culture over the expanse of history."
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