PAPIO'S PALS

WHO ARE "PAPIO'S PALS"?

While we consider anyone who celebrates this family-friendly, human-powered sculpture & art bike parade a friend, “Papio’s Pals” are people that rally behind the kinetic momentum with donations and support.

Each year, the Society raises funds to offer scholarships to schools and artist sponsorships to help propel select participants forward as they proudly parade their kinetic sculptures down Duval Street.

Key West Art & Historical Society Operations Manager Shawn Cowles (left), Executive Director Michael Gieda, and Historic Tours of America’s CEO Chris Belland stand near a Stanley Papio sculpture at the Custom House Museum. Belland’s company recently gave the organization $2500 donation towards the KWAHS Kinetic Coaches in schools’ program for the third annual Papio Kinetic Sculpture and Art Bike Parade.

Key West Art & Historical Society Executive Director Michael Gieda (left)and Margaritaville Key West Resort & Marina General Manager Diane Schmidt are pictured with a Stanley Papio sculpture installation at Fort East Martello Museum. Diane’s company has contributed $2,400 towards the KWAHS Kinetic Coaches in schools’ program for the 2017 and 2018 Papio Kinetic Sculpture and Art Bike Parade. Thank you Margaritaville Key West Resort & Marina!

Thanks to Historic Tours of America for being Papio's Pals two years in a row!

The original “Papio’s Pals” were a team of people from Key West Art & Historical Society & beyond— including current board member Sharon Wells & the National Endowment for the Arts— that put wheels in motion to salvage folk artist Stanley Papio’s work after his death in 1982. Together they worked to conserve more than 100 sculptural objects and three-dimensional constructions donated to The Society by Papio’s brother, which are now on display at Fort East Martello Museum.