Young Australian Charged for Allegedly Placing Sticker Eyes on ‘Cast in Blue’ Artwork
A teenager from the Land Down Under has faced legal proceedings after allegedly defacing a sizable blue sculpture of a mythical creature by affixing plastic eyes to it.
Amelia Vanderhorst, 19 years old, appeared remotely at Mount Gambier Magistrates Court in South Australia on Tuesday, charged with a single charge of damaging property.
In a statement at the time of the September incident, the local council said that surveillance video captured a person putting artificial eyes on the artwork, which residents have nicknamed the “Blue Blob”.
The accused made no plea and informed the judge she was unwell, according to media sources, with the magistrate advising her to secure a legal representative before her upcoming hearing in the final month of the year.
The following day the alleged incident, the city leader said that repairs to the much-loved community sculpture would be costly as the adhesive eyes could not be removed without damaging the art piece.
“This intentional vandalism to a cherished public artwork is inappropriate and disrespectful,” City of Mount Gambier mayor remarked in September. “It is not innocent amusement, it is costly - it is also frustrating to those people of our society who have welcomed Cast in Blue.”
The mayor added the council would pursue the “substantial” restoration expenses from those responsible for the vandalism.
At the time the sculpture was initially suggested, it received varied responses from the area residents due to its price tag and appearance.
Priced at A$136,000 ($89,000; £68,000), the artwork depicts a legendary giant animal, with the creators influenced by an prehistoric anteater-like marsupial found in nearby caverns that was “massive, lumbering and fascinating”.
