Young Australian Charged for Allegedly Attaching Googly Eyes on ‘Cast in Blue’ Sculpture
A young person from Australia has appeared in court after allegedly vandalizing a large blue sculpture of a mythical creature by affixing googly eyes to it.
Amelia Vanderhorst, 19 years old, appeared via phone at the local court in the state of South Australia on that day, facing with one count of property damage.
In a statement at the time of the recent event, the municipal authorities said that surveillance video showed a individual placing fake eyes on the sculpture, which locals have nicknamed the “Cast in Blue”.
The accused made no plea and told the court she was ill, as reported by media sources, with the judge advising her to find a legal representative before her next court date in December.
The following day the reported event, the local mayor stated that restoration to the popular community sculpture would be costly as the stickers could not be detached without damaging the sculpture.
“This intentional vandalism to a valued community art is inappropriate and disrespectful,” City of Mount Gambier mayor remarked in September. “It is not harmless fun, it is pricey - it is also frustrating to those people of our community who have embraced Cast in Blue.”
She added the local government would seek the “significant” repair costs from those accountable for the damage.
At the time the sculpture was initially suggested, it drew varied responses from the area residents due to its price tag and appearance.
Priced at A$136,000 (eighty-nine thousand US dollars; £68,000), the sculpture depicts a mythical megafauna, with the sculpture’s designers inspired by an prehistoric anteater-like marsupial discovered in local caves that was “massive, lumbering and fascinating”.
