$15,000 civil suit considered after graffiti attacks on public art installation and civic buildings

These images show the graffiti that was sprayed on Sternwheeler public art installation (top image courtesy of the City of Revelstoke) and the way the now-cleaned wood was damaged by the paint and the chemicals used to remove it. Revelstoke Current illustration
These images show the graffiti that was sprayed on the In the Wake of the Sternwheeler public art installation (top image courtesy of the City of Revelstoke) and the way the now-cleaned wood was dulled and damaged by the paint and the chemicals used to remove it.  Revelstoke Current illustration

By David F. Rooney

A vandalism spree that included the defacement of the City’s new In the Wake of the Sternwheelers public art installation could have some major financial consequences for the perpetrator.

City Council is considering filing a civil suit to recover $15,000 in costs associated with cleaning this act of vandalism,. which has been attributed to a young male, and 2013 RSS grad, arrested by RCMP.

“The buildings, local art and other locations specific to the municipality that were tagged by graffiti include the RCMP Station (3 locations), Community/Aquatic Centre (5 locations), Fire Hall, storage building on Fourth Street West (2 locations), Centennial Park Amenities Building (3 locations), Centennial Park Washroom Building (4 locations), Centennial Park dugouts, Community Centre parking lot edging stones, Sternwheeler, green solid waste/recycling receptacles and traffic signs,” said a report to Council by Teresa LeRose, deputy director of corporate administration.

Perhaps the most noteworthy graffiti was the attack on the Sternwheeler installation. This was the first-ever desecration of a piece of public art in Revelstoke.

Designed and created by Rob Buchanan, Daryl Ross, Rudy Magirena and Robert Maraun n the Wake of the Sternwheelers was, until the June 22 assault, a gleaming and proud contribution to the beautification of our City. While municipal staff managed to get rid of the hideous and, frankly, illiterate painted message, the wood is now dulled and ugly.

“It’s shameful,” said City Councillor Gary Starling. That brief comment pretty well summed up Council’s reaction to the incident. And that reaction could go further as legal action is considered. Against who, exactly, remains to be seen. City Hall will seek legal advice before it makes a final decision on the civil suit.

There are two things people should remember as they read this story:

  1. This was an isolated incident and is not representative of our local high school students; and
  2. As Councillor Linda Nixon noted during Council’s deliberations  “a number of parents came out to help clean up the mess. They are to be commended,” she said

 

 

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