Letras de Ponce

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Letras de Ponce

Letras de P-O-N-C-E in Barrio Sabanetas, Ponce, Puerto Rico

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General information

Architectural style Modern

Location Ponce

Country Puerto Rico

Coordinates 18°01′31.51″N 66°34′12.86″W

Construction 2003

started

Completed January 2004[1]

Cost US$430,000

Client Puerto Rico Department of Transportation

 Technical details

Structural system Marina steel[2]

Size 20 ft (6.1 m) high, 18 ft (5.5 m) wide, 12 ft

(3.7 m) deep

Design and construction

Architect Carlos Rivera Villafañe

The Letras de Ponce (English: Ponce letters) is a famous landmark in

Barrio Sabanetas in Ponce, Puerto Rico, located southbound on PR-52 at the
intersection with PR-10. The iconic monument consists of five letters that spell the
name of the city P-O-N-C-E in 20-foot high (6.1 m) by 18-foot wide (5.5 m) by 12-foot
deep (3.7 m) red and black letters. The letters, and its resulting sign, were designed
by Carlos Rivera Villafañe, a sculptor from Ponce. [3] The landmark is said to be
"known to every Puerto Rican."[4]

Contents

 1History
 2Construction and design
 3Carlos Rivera Villafañe
 4Maintenance
 5Location
 6Alterations and vandalism
 7Controversy
 8References
 9External links

History[edit]
In 2002 the Puerto Rico Department of Transportation presented a contest for the
design of a monument to be placed on State Route 52 (PR-52), at the entrance of
the city of Ponce.[5] The contest was part of what would become 97 projects of public
art spread throughout Puerto Rico.[6]
In selecting the work of art, the Government of Puerto Rico considered
318[7] submissions from hundreds of artists around the world, including Ada
Bobonis, Ann Hamilton, Antoni Muntadas, Liliana Porter, and Devorah Sperber.
[8]
 Rivera Villafañe's proposal was one of the winners, and the winner for the Ponce
entrance monument.

Construction and design[edit]

The letters are built of "marine steel", also known as corteen, the same material used
in the construction of ships.[9] Each letter measures 20 feet high by 18 feet wide by 12
feet deep.[10] Together they span an area of half a kilometer. The breadth of the letters
is intended to symbolize the extension of the city of Ponce, "heightening Ponce's
urban identity and raising it to its territorial extension." [11] The letters cost
US$430,000.[12] Its design, manufacture and suiting all were done in Puerto Rico. [13]

Carlos Rivera Villafañe[edit]

Carlos Rivera Villafañe was born in Ponce in 1966. He graduated from the Escuela
de Artes Graficas de Puerto Rico in San Juan, Puerto Rico with a bachelor's degree
in 1989. In addition to the Letras de Ponce, Rivera Villafañe has works in San Juan,
Madrid, Lima, Havana, Cuenca, Slovenia, Yugoslavia, New York City, and Miami.[14][15]

Maintenance[edit]
The monument is regularly maintained with fresh paint as recommended by its
designer.[16] They require special care as well as a special paint. [17] They are painted in
black and red, the traditional colors of the city of Ponce. [18] The monument is also
painted after acts of vandalism, including graffiti.

Location[edit]
The monument is located on smooth, flat terrain, and each letter is surrounded by
flowers. Its site is just outside the northeastern edge of the urban area of Ponce, on
PR-52, the main road into Ponce from San Juan. While the monument is visible as
motorists approach the city on the highway, it has been noted that motorists are not
able to stop to admire it, as they risk being fined. [19]
The monument's unique location made it an ideal site to hold a protest. In October
2009, a group of some 20 Government of Puerto Rico public employees used the
site to launch a protest against their recent layoff. [20]

 18°01′31.51″N 66°34′12.86″W

Alterations and vandalism[edit]

It is illegal to make unauthorized physical alterations to the sign. The letters have
been vandalised a few times. In November 2011, the letter "O" was vandalised with
graffiti.[21]

Controversy[edit]
Due to its location at the center and both sides of a major expressway, it is one of
Puerto Rico's most controversial works of public art.[22] In April 2009, the Puerto Rico
Department of Transportation and Public Works (DTOP) was fined almost
US$80 million for placing the letters there. [23] Subsequently, a bill was introduced into
the Legislature of Puerto Rico to eliminate public art from Puerto Rico roads. The
basis was that, allegedly, they were in violation of the Federal Highway
Administration regulations.[24] In February 2010, it was agreed that the letters would
stay where they were.[25]
References[edit]
1. ^ Sandra Caquías Cruz. El Nuevo Dia. San Juan, Puerto
Rico. 27 July 2005. Retrieved 6 November 2011.
2. ^ Conjunto excultorico Letras de Ponce. Archived 17 July
2011 at the Wayback Machine Government of the
Autonomous Municipality of Ponce. Ponce, Puerto Rico.
Retrieved 6 November 2011.
3. ^ Conjunto excultorico Letras de Ponce. Archived 17 July
2011 at the Wayback Machine Government of the
Autonomous Municipality of Ponce. Ponce, Puerto Rico.
Retrieved 6 November 2011.
4. ^ Alonso & Carus...50 años de arduo trabajo y
dedicación.Archived 3 December 2013 at the Wayback
Machine Planos y Capacetes. March – April 2012. Page
20. Retrieved 28 September 2012..
5. ^ Ponce: Letras de Ponce. F. Suarez. Pontificia
Universidad Catolica de Puerto Rico. Page 15. Retrieved
6 November 2011.
6. ^ The Ponce Letters Monument. Travel Ponce. Ponce,
Puerto Rico. Retrieved 6 November 2011.
7. ^ Ponce: Letras de Ponce. F. Suarez. Pontificia
Universidad Catolica de Puerto Rico. Page 15. Retrieved
6 November 2011.
8. ^ Las Letras de Ponce: Símbolo del orgullo ponceño…¡al
estilo Hollywood! Archived 25 April 2012 at the Wayback
MachineRachell E. López Ortiz. KoolTour Activa Puerto
Rico. Retrieved 6 November 2011.
9. ^ Conjunto excultorico Letras de Ponce. Government of
the Autonomous Municipality of Ponce. Ponce, Puerto
Rico. Retrieved 6 November 2011.
10. ^ Conjunto excultorico Letras de Ponce. Archived 17 July
2011 at the Wayback Machine Government of the
Autonomous Municipality of Ponce. Ponce, Puerto Rico.
Retrieved 6 November 2011.
11. ^ Las Letras de Ponce: Símbolo del orgullo ponceño…¡al
estilo Hollywood! Archived 25 April 2012 at the Wayback
MachineRachell E. López Ortiz. KoolTour Activa Puerto
Rico. Retrieved 6 November 2011.
12. ^ Ponce Ciudad Senorial: Atracciones
Turisticas. Archived 17 July 2011 at the Wayback
Machine Government of the Autonoumous Municipality of
Ponce. Ponce, Puerto Rico. Retrieved 6 November 2011.
13. ^ Ponce: Letras de Ponce. F. Suarez. Pontificia
Universidad Catolica de Puerto Rico. Ponce, Puerto Rico.
Page 15. Retrieved 6 November 2011.
14. ^ Las Letras de Ponce: Símbolo del orgullo ponceño…¡al
estilo Hollywood! Archived 25 April 2012 at the Wayback
MachineRachell E. López Ortiz. KoolTour Activa Puerto
Rico. Retrieved 6 November 2011.
15. ^ The Ponce Letters Monument. Travel Ponce. Ponce,
Puerto Rico. Retrieved 6 November 2011.
16. ^ Pintan las letras de Ponce y Mayita dice que se quedan
donde están. Primera Hora. San Juan, Puerto Rico. 4
February 2010. Retrieved 6 November 2011.
 17. ^ Alcaldesa de Ponce repudia vandalismo a las ‘Letras
de Ponce’.El Sur a la Vista. Ponce, Puerto Rico. 3
November 2011. Retrieved 4 November 2011.
18. ^ Critican vandalismo en letras de Ponce. Primera Hora.
San Juan, Puerto Rico. 3 November 2011. Retrieved 6
November 2011.
19. ^ The Ponce Letters Monument. Travel Ponce. Ponce,
Puerto Rico. Retrieved 6 November 2011.
20. ^ Toman letras de Ponce. Noticias Online. San Juan,
Puerto Rico. 13 October 2009. Retrieved 6 November
2011.
21. ^ Alcaldesa de Ponce repudia vandalismo a las ‘Letras
de Ponce’.El Sur a la Vista. Ponce, Puerto Rico. 3
November 2011. Retrieved 4 November 2011.
22. ^ The Ponce Letters Monument. Travel Ponce. Ponce,
Puerto Rico. Retrieved 6 November 2011.
23. ^ Demanda por las letras de Ponce: El Departamento de
Transportación y Obras Públicas confirmó que ha sido
multado por casi $80 millones. Ariel Rivera Vázquez.
WAPA-TV. San Juan, Puerto Rico. 26 April 2009.
Retrieved 6 November 2011.
24. ^ Pintan las letras de Ponce y Mayita dice que se quedan
donde están. Primera Hora. San Juan, Puerto Rico. 4
February 2010. Retrieved 6 November 2011.
25. ^ Alcaldesa de Ponce repudia vandalismo a las ‘Letras
de Ponce’.El Sur a la Vista. Ponce, Puerto Rico. 3
November 2011. Retrieved 4 November 2011.

External links[edit]
Coordinates:  18°1′31.51″N 66°34′12.86″W

 Puerto Rico portal

 Geography portal

 Photos of the Ponce letters:

o Photos of Ponce letters at Panoramio
o Photos of Ponce letters at Flick

show

Puerto Rico articles
Categories: 
 Billboards
 Buildings and structures completed in 2000
 Buildings and structures in Ponce, Puerto Rico
 2004 establishments in Puerto Rico
  Tourist attractions in Ponce, Puerto Rico
 Public art in Puerto Rico
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