doublejosh

On Getting Your Public Art Stolen

Bullets…

• Went away to Rockaway Beach, OR for a week.
• Wanted to vacation with intention and spend time creating as well as relaxing.
• Brought supplies and several plans for projects.
• Created a light-up jelly fish looking thing that folks could stand inside.
• Turned the lights on and off each night for three days.
• Ok… sometimes other people, even strangers, turned the lights on and off.
• On at least one occasion random people even assembled and made a light show.
• The sun went down (7:30); we didn’t turn it on right away.
• We visited it around 9:30 and the whole thing had vanished.
• Our guess is that is was removed by parks/police, or a resident.
• Visited police who let us know it was pretty much grounds for a ticket.
• Let them know people enjoyed it, left.

Lame. Bummer. *Grumble*

Lessons…

1. Leave a small sign letting folks know when a piece will be “cleaned up” if you will be leaving it unattended. If you’re brave leave a phone number or email address. You could always create a new one (google number) just for the occasion.
2. Add a little extra difficulty for theft. If someone want to take it they will, if the authorities want it gone it will go, but you can deter the random asshole if you bolt a few things together or choose not to use wing-nuts.
3. Adjust your expectations of what will be appreciated. Be aware that some people don’t like things out of the ordinary regardless. Make sure to visit your piece more than you think might be necessary. Also, be ok if it gets lifted.
4. Rockaway Beach (and probably most small beach towns in Oregon) are not super into unsanctioned public art on their sand.