Here’s a rather harsh and unusual punishment for a Missouri man who paid a teenage to destroy a world war II monument, Rex Barstow has agreed to be banished from the town. The 57 year old from Clark paid a 14 year kid to knock over the General Omar Bradley monument and then spray paint the fire department shed. It seems the town is rather happy with the outcome and will be glad to see the back of him.
» Public Art Vandalism
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Lennin Butt OutBy Tanya Izzard on April 2nd, 2009 | No Comments
OK sorry for laughing but who blew the butt off Lenin? Come on, one of you did? The statue of Communist leader Vladimir Lenin now has a 100cm gaping hole in his arse. Not funny people. The statue was erected next to the Finland Station in St Petersburg and now look at him. Not only does he have a rather unattractive exit wound in his bottom there is also some damage to his left leg and hip. How embarrassing, who is going to take communism seriously now? Oh and for goodness sakes the nearby light fixtures were damaged too! No word on who the culprits are.
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Islamic Group Jihads Stork StatuesBy Tanya Izzard on December 2nd, 2008 | No Comments
For goodness sakes people. Eight Muslims from the hard lines Islamic group Ulama Anjumane Al Baiyeniat (who?) in Dhaka, Bangladesh, have been arrested for damaging a group of six white stork sculptures.The men all armed with shovels and hammers began whacking the 41ft (12.5m) tall structures after an attempt to pull them down with ropes failed. Hmm, they meant business. Ah, it seems this group has a jihad against statues in general because they are seen as a form of idol worship (hmm, better not tell Paula Abdul, she’ll cry!). The eight have been charged with creating chaos and attacking security officials.The sculptor Mrinal Haque has stated the statues which were erected in 1989 had nothing to do with Islam (well they do now!).
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Leave them goats aloneBy Tanya Izzard on October 12th, 2008 | No Comments
Two men (not kids!) have been arrested over the deliberate damage of two fiberglass goat statues in Hendersonville. The goats were part of the downtown art collection called “Kidding Around Downtown,” . The two goats injured were Groovy goat (who had his head knocked right off) and Mountain Goat (who lost an ear). They are yet to locate the ear. This isn’t Mountain Goat’s first time in the news, he was nicked along with “Connie-Mara” in July by two kids who were later charged. Prior to the goats, the town had a five year run with decorative fiberglass bears. The decorative goats eventually get auctioned off for charity, which makes this so sad because who wants a goat with no head or ear?
Name and shame them right here. The culprits for the latest attack on the fiberglass goats are Daniel Joseph Markel, 27, of Flat Rock, and Craig Owen Hensley, 29, of Hendersonville.They have both been charged with damage to personal property. One for the Billy goats gruff!
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Confederate Soldier Loses His BallsBy Tanya Izzard on October 11th, 2008 | No Comments
Well, one Cannonball that is! Yes, a teenager messing around the Confederate Soldier statue in Bentonville Square, Arkansas, accidentally knocked off one of the cannonballs. But the guilt ridden kid rang police and waited for them to arrived to confess his sins (bless). This statue seems to becoming a bit of a worry for the city’s Parks Department, it seems the statue is notorious for losing it’s balls.The cannonballs have been knocked off before and in February 2007 one was stolen. Ewh and lets not forget last week the statue got foamed (i.e.soap suds in the fountain trick!).
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Another Paint JobBy Tanya Izzard on October 11th, 2008 | No Comments
The statue of ANC activist Gert Sibande in central Bethal (South Africa) has had a paint job done on it (but not in a good way).Nope, vandals went and painted him white. Mission accomplished,they got the reaction they were looking for. Mpumalanga premier Thabang Makwetla angrily declared “I wish to condemn in the strongest possible terms the vandalisation and defacing of the newly erected statue. These are acts of remnants of racism [and] white supremacy who must be isolated and defeated,”.Sibande was an African National Congress activist and a leader of the farm labourers who initiated the potato boycott 1958.
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Elephants Don’t ForgetBy Tanya Izzard on October 11th, 2008 | No Comments
Hmm, if you are going to damage a statue in a sacred temple make sure no elephant is watching, alright! Ten people alleged to be involved in the the vandalism of the temple of elephant-headed god Ganesha situated in Mahudi hills of Hazaribagh, India, got a nasty surprise when an elephant rampaged their homes. It seems the elephant picked up the scent of these culprits who vandalized the temple and statue on the 16th of August and decided to dish out some justice of its own. Gosh, here is hoping the elephant was right, because all ten people were arrested by the police. Elephants obviously carry a lot of weight in India. Can’t wait for the trial, I wonder if the elephant will take the stand?
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Richard Harris Statue DamagedBy Tanya Izzard on October 11th, 2008 | No Comments
It doesn’t really work when the scabbard Richard Harris is holding up is bent back 45degrees now does it? Hmm, vandals have been at it again, this time focusing on the Richard Harris statue on Bedford Row,Ireland. Mayor of Limerick, John Gilligan, called the vandals “uncivilised.” The cracked sword and bent back scabbard will be repaired ASAP. The sculptor of the statue, Jim Connolly, will be carrying out the repairs. Wanna see Harris’s bent sword click here Limerick Leader.
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Will Rogers Cut DownBy Tanya Izzard on September 24th, 2008 | No Comments
The feet are all that remains of the 350lb Will Rogers statue. Yes, and it looks as though it was a handsaw job. The public art thieves cut the wooden Will Rogers sculpture from the ankles, leaving just stumps. Located near the Will Rogers school where Rogers frequented, the statue has become a much loved icon for the children. The principal of the school remarked “I don’t think the person who took it realizes how much it bothers the children. They’re just really sad and it makes them angry that someone would do that.” The sculpture was created by Don Bishop in 2003 after he saw Stillwater Park and Recreation employees about to cut down a dead tree. He offered to carve the trunk and the rest was history. A few year back someone tried hacking off Will Roger’s head but were hindered due to bolts Bishop had placed through it. If the sculpture isn’t found Bishop has promised to carve a new one, that is, when he finds a 8ft tall chunk of tree.
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Doughboy Found in ReservoirBy Tanya Izzard on September 24th, 2008 | No Comments
Fisherman, Michael Wright, got an unexpected surprise when he spotted the World War I Doughboy statue sticking out of the mud in the Mogadore Reservoir. The 3ft high zinc statue which was the centerpiece of Memorial Day celebrations was pinched 2 weeks ago. Doughboy has been standing in the village for 70 years. The evil doers broke off the sculpture from it’s ankles and then proceeded to smash it’s head in before throwing it in the reservoir. The statue named Spirit of the American Doughboy was sculpted in 1936 by artist E.M. Viquesney (1876-1946). It depicts an soldier resting with his helmet pushed back and rifle in his left hand. Fund raising has begun for the repair of the doughboy whilst police try and find the culprits.






























