Someone Keeps Putting Googly Eyes on Sculptures in Oregon. Here's Why the City Is Begging Them to Stop
Bend, Oregon, officials know that the googly eyes might "give you a chuckle" — but they're damaging the city's artwork
City of Bend Oregon Government
"Orb I" in Bend, Oregon, with googly eyesA Central Oregon city is asking a local vandal to stop putting oversized googly eyes on some popular sculptures and statues — even though the results may "give you a chuckle."
In a post on the Bend, Oregon, Instagram account last week, town officials said, "We love our roundabout art in Bend, so let's do our part to take care of it. While the googly eyes placed on the various art pieces around town might give you a chuckle, it costs money to remove them with care to not damage the art."
At least eight sculptures or art pieces around the city have been vandalized with googly eyes, the Central Oregon Daily News reported.
They are all part of the Roundabout Art Route, a collection of public art that visitors and locals can enjoy while walking around the city. Many of the sculptures were donated by a local non-profit, Art in Public Places, according to VisitBend.com.
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Among those vandalized was "Big Ears," by artist Joe Halko, bronze cast deers that are often adorned with leis, sunglasses or holiday garb by visitors, according to an online pamphlet. (The leis and wreaths aren't condoned either, the city said on Instagram.)
A six-foot sphere statue called "Orb I" by Brandon Zebold also got the googly eye treatment.
City of Bend Oregon Government
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"The adhesive that's used to do that really damages the art," Bend's assistant city manager Stephanie Betteridge told Central Oregon Daily News.
She added, "We're trying to get it off quickly to minimize the damage. But we've had eight pieces that have had eyes installed on them over the past few months. It's cost over $1,500 to remove that."
Echoed city spokesperson René Mitchell to The Oregonian, "While the addition of the googly eyes may be amusing and make people laugh, they ultimately cause unintended damage."
The city's communications department did not immediately respond to PEOPLE's request for comment.
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