By Dominic Abassi

Popular art piece stolen from Nanaimo’s Maffeo Sutton Park

Jun 25, 2018 | 1:21 PM

NANAIMO — No word if the White Walkers are to blame, but someone has a new dragon after a piece of public art was stolen from a Nanaimo park.

The City’s Chris Barfoot said the aluminum dragon which sits atop the Rock Dragon art piece in Maffeo Sutton Park, near the Newcastle Island ferry dock, went missing sometime over the weekend. 

“It is extremely disappointing someone stole this wonderful piece of public art. By removing the dragon, those involved have removed the opportunity for the rest of the community and visitors to enjoy,” Barfoot told NanaimoNewsNOW.

The dragon was last seen in its proper place on the evening of June 22. A post on social media from Saturday afternoon wondered “What happened to the dragon?”

Barfoot said it appears there was a coordinated effort to remove the dragon because there was very little damage done to the base and no clear signs of vandalism.

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The dragon, standing roughly four feet tall and five feet wide, was perched atop a nearly eight-foot stand and took three people to install.

The City paid artist Heather Wall a $4,000 honorarium to have the piece on display. It was installed in early June and was intended to remain in the park until next May.

Barfoot said while they have had some minor vandalism to the public art pieces in the past, it’s the first time one has been completely stolen.

“This is a community program, it’s public art for everyone. It’s not reflective of what the community feels about this program.”

He said Wall is “Upset the citizens of Nanaimo can’t enjoy her sculpture,” noting it was one of the favourite pieces recently erected for the 2018 public art program. Barfoot said they could consider creating a replacement at a later date but hoped it wouldn’t come to that.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Nanaimo RCMP or Crime Stoppers. Barfoot said whoever has it can return it to any City facility no questions asked.

dom@nanaimonewsnow.com

On Twitter: @domabassi