La Antorcha de la Amistad, Monumental sculpture at Market Street intersection, San Antonio, United States.
The Torch of Friendship is a red geometric sculpture in downtown San Antonio made of two iron posts that rise at different angles until they meet at the highest point. The structure stands 65 feet (20 meters) tall and dominates the intersection of Losoya, Commerce, Market, and Alamo Street from the center of a roundabout.
The Asociación de Empresarios Mexicanos, a Texas non-profit of Mexican-American business owners, commissioned the work with the Mexican Consulate and the City of San Antonio. It was unveiled on June 27, 2002, by sculptor Sebastián, Mayor Edward D. Garza and Mexican Foreign Secretary Jorge Castañeda Gutman. The site, a previously empty traffic island, was chosen partly because it was said to be where prisoners captured at the Battle of the Alamo were executed.
The work symbolizes the connection between Mexico and the United States through its design of two separate elements joining together at the top. This form reflects the shared history and strong bonds between the two countries.
The sculpture is easily accessible from the pedestrian areas and can be viewed from various points around the intersection. The best viewing spots are the sidewalks or near adjacent shops, where you can see the full height and shape of the work.
The rotary island where the sculpture stands was reportedly the site where prisoners captured at the Battle of the Alamo were executed; Alejandro Quiroz learned this while researching the location, and the Asociación de Empresarios Mexicanos chose it after some debate. The City Council approved the site within a week before the June 27, 2002 dedication.
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