The Freedom sculpture in downtown Tampa stands in Joe Chillura Courthouse Square as a twelve foot figure rising with arms lifted toward the sky, a gesture that reads as both release and resolve, and the bronze and steel surfaces catch the Florida light in a way that makes the whole form feel like it is stretching itself into the day . The rings circling the figure give it a sense of motion, almost like the air is parting around someone stepping into a wider life.
The sculpture was created by artist Jerry Meatyard, Freedom was originally placed in 1987, a moment when Tampa was reshaping its downtown identity, and the piece has stayed rooted in that square ever since, becoming one of those quiet landmarks you notice more each time you pass by. The poem by James E Tokley Sr at its base adds another layer, giving the figure a voice that matches its upward reach and turning the whole installation into a small conversation between sculpture, city, and passerby.
Gaze at me and wonder what I see
My arms, outstretched, that measure countless stars
My stance unmatched by even the tallest tree
The compass of my feet, a common cause!
O gaze at me and wonder what you see
My glistening chest that hides a heart of steel
That judges Human Will and finds it free
To reach aloft and spin God's cosmic wheel!
To make of life whatever life may be,
Like an early morning sun, I rise up free!
The sculpture is noticeable but not overwhelming. The combination of bronze, steel, and open air gives it a grounded but aspirational presence, and the longer you look the more it feels like a person caught in the instant of choosing to rise which is a fitting message for a civic square where people come and go with their own hopes and burdens. It is a piece that rewards a slow walk around it, letting the rings shift, the shadows lengthen, and the idea of freedom feel a little more tangible.
[Review 127 of 2026 - 2238 in Florida - 25317 overall] read more