A New Monument for a City Founder
A bronze statue of aviation pioneer Glenn Curtiss now stands at the entrance to Curtiss Parkway in Miami Springs. The monument, unveiled on August 22, 2026, marks exactly one hundred years since Curtiss founded the city. The installation features a stylized replica of the June Bug, the historic biplane Curtiss flew on July 4, 1908, during the first public flight in the United States. Designed by Cuban-American artist Natalie Plasencia, the figure depicts the inventor wearing a cap and suit, standing with crossed arms in a stance of quiet composure.
Community members gather daily around the site to read plaques detailing the inventor's life and his 400 patents. Curtiss, who also founded Opa-locka and Hialeah, died in 1930 at age 52 following complications from an appendectomy. The monument provides a physical space for residents to exercise and converse. Local officials supported the project to help establish a stronger sense of local identity. The statue faces Westward Drive, anchoring a space intended for public reflection.
The Artist Behind the Bronze
Natalie Plasencia, born in Hialeah and raised in Miami Springs, considers the project a milestone in her career. She spent months working on a clay mold before the final casting. Plasencia finds personal resonance in the life of Curtiss, noting that both share an interest in speed and design. She is an avid windfoiler, a sport that requires an understanding of wind and movement. She views the statue as a representation of the American Dream, noting that Curtiss left school in the eighth grade to support his family after his father died.
Art became her primary vocation after years of working as a social worker assisting families in crisis. She did not follow a traditional academic path in fine arts, instead drawing from her experiences and personal history. Plasencia describes her transition to sculpture as a search for depth and durability that painting could not provide. Her portfolio includes religious works, such as a cross for the Blessed Trinity Church in Miami Springs and a representation of Saint Mary Star of the Sea in Key West.
Community Impact and Political Art
Beyond her work in Miami Springs, Plasencia maintains a focus on political activism and human rights. She frequently creates art that acknowledges figures involved in the struggle for democracy in Cuba. In 2024, she completed a bronze relief of dissident Oswaldo Payá for a monument in Hialeah. She volunteers with organizations like Cuba Decide, maintaining bonds with families affected by political imprisonment. For her, art serves as a form of prayer and a medium for truth.
The installation in Miami Springs functions as a gathering point, encouraging residents to pause in their daily routines. Plasencia believes that monuments serve a greater purpose when they invite dialogue rather than serving as static decorations. She notes that the process of building the monument involved donors and council members who wanted to participate in the local history. As the city matures, this project provides a tangible link to its foundational roots and its growth over the last century.