Bend, Oregon‘s googly-Eyed Sculpture Saga: A $1,500 problem
A seemingly harmless act of playful vandalism in Bend, Oregon, has turned into a costly headache for city officials. The culprit? A wave of googly eyes mysteriously appearing on the city’s public sculptures,transforming serious artwork into whimsical,wide-eyed characters.
While some residents find the googly-eyed sculptures amusing, the city is less than thrilled. The adhesive used to attach the oversized plastic eyes is causing damage to the sculptures’ delicate surfaces, leading to costly repairs. According to city officials, the removal process itself is painstaking, requiring careful attention to avoid further damage to the artwork.
The city has already shelled out over $1,500 to remove the mischievous eyes, and the problem persists. A city spokesperson emphasized the seriousness of the situation, stating, “Let’s stay away from glue, graffiti and anything that can damage art.”
Further explaining the damage, a city hall spokesperson, Renee Mitchell, detailed the challenges: “Korten steel can lose its texture from the glue, which would then require a chemical treatment.” The cost of this treatment adds to the growing financial burden on the city.
The city’s plea to stop the googly-eye additions has sparked a debate on social media. While some residents sympathize with the city’s financial strain, others defend the playful additions, arguing that the eyes add a touch of whimsy and don’t warrant such a strong response. Some even speculate that the city’s public statement might ironically encourage further additions.
This incident highlights the delicate balance between public art and community interaction. While playful acts of creativity can bring joy,the potential for unintended consequences,both financial and artistic,underscores the importance of respecting public property and the artistic integrity of public works.
the city of Bend, Oregon has experienced an ongoing issue wiht googly eyes being placed on public sculptures. [[None]] The adhesive used to attach the googly eyes is damaging the delicate surfaces of the sculptures, costing the city over $1,500 in removal fees. [[None]]
The city has urged residents to stop attaching googly eyes to the sculptures, citing the cost and potential for permanent damage. [[None]]
Some residents have expressed amusement at the googly-eyed sculptures, while others have defended the act as harmless whimsy. [[None]] The situation has sparked a debate about the balance between community interaction and the preservation of public art. [[None]]
