“Rio,” the bronze sculpture of a swimmer, can be seen at Tide Park, a local beach access at the corner of Pacific Avenue and Solana Vista Drive in Solana Beach. The community response has been so positive since her arrival in November 2021, the artist, Richard Harmetz, has generously donated the sculpture to the city’s permanent art collection. The model for Rio is a Brazilian woman named Paolo, from Rio. The artist’s vision for her setting was for her to be standing at the edge of the water, with wind blowing in her hair and the towel that she holds_ the setting where she currently resides.
