Young Australian Charged for Supposedly Placing Googly Eyes on ‘Cast in Blue’ Sculpture
A teenager from the Land Down Under has faced legal proceedings after reportedly defacing a sizable art piece of a mythical creature by applying plastic eyes to it.
Amelia Vanderhorst, 19 years old, participated via phone at the local court in South Australia on that day, charged with one count of property damage.
In a statement at the time of the recent event, the municipal authorities explained that surveillance video captured a person placing fake eyes on the sculpture, which locals have dubbed the “Blue Blob”.
Ms Vanderhorst made no plea and informed the judge she was unwell, as reported by media sources, with the magistrate recommending her to find a legal representative before her next court date in December.
The following day the alleged incident, the local mayor stated that restoration to the much-loved community sculpture would be expensive as the stickers could not be detached without harming the sculpture.
“This wilful damage to a cherished community art is unacceptable and disrespectful,” City of Mount Gambier mayor said in mid-September. “It is not innocent amusement, it is pricey - it is also disappointing to those people of our community who have welcomed Cast in Blue.”
The mayor added the council would seek the “substantial” restoration expenses from those responsible for the damage.
At the time the sculpture was first proposed, it drew varied responses from the local community due to its price tag and design.
Costing A$136,000 (eighty-nine thousand US dollars; £68,000), the sculpture represents a legendary giant animal, with the sculpture’s designers inspired by an ancient anteater-like marsupial discovered in local caves that was “massive, lumbering and fascinating”.
