Huntsville Festival of the Arts (HFA) is seeking the public’s help in finding part of a sculpture that’s gone missing from River Mill Park.
Two large, ephemeral wooden figures had been woven by artist Marc Walter in late July. The installation, called The REACH, featured two stylized people reaching toward one another. It was intended to celebrate how the community is strong together, even though individually we are apart thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic.
But today, the HFA discovered that the statues had been taken apart. While three halves remain in the park, a fourth piece is missing.
“Either it has been taken by someone or is at the bottom of the river,” reads a post on the HFA Facebook page. “We hope that it has been taken, and that whoever is responsible will return it… It’s heart breaking that someone has tampered with them. We hope for a happy ending.”
Anyone with information about what happened to the sculpture is invited to contact the HFA at 705-788-2787 or [email protected].
The REACH nearing completion on July 30, 2020 (Dawn Huddlestone)
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I think it shows a level of frustration and maybe the availability of recreation facilities would help.
Perhaps the “problem “ is not with youths but, more with bar patrons who have overindulged ?
I find it disturbing that people do not want local youths in the downtown.
The town’s bylaw enforcement cannot work 24/7.
It also seems that people are “jumping “ to the conclusion that this may have been caused by permanent residents and not by cottagers or tourists who are transient in nature with no real appreciation for the community; aside from viewing it as a summer playground for their use.
My heart sank when I read the comment above saying that youths have been spotted in Huntsville’s downtown. Census results from all across Canada have demonstrated a strong correlation between teenagers and crime – in nearly all populations containing young people, there is also crime. The facts speak for themselves.
It is for this reason I believe the Town Council should add this item to their agenda for the upcoming August 24 meeting. The presence of youths in our downtown areas is a problem that must be confronted head-on.
Maybe the eager parking dude can do double duty as a security guard for the park ,and the downtown
This is disgraceful, childish behaviour; no doubt perpetrated by adolescents: They obviously have no appreciation of art, and no respect for our town. Maybe we should be more like China and install a few cameras here and there. Wouldn’t that be disgusting!
More realistically, the Seasonal Parking Ambassador (if one was hired), or the permanent Bylaw Officer could include this in her/his rounds.
Now maybe a security guard can be hired to patrol the boardwalk. It is no longer a pleasure to visit this area any time of day. Groups of kids swearing and throwing garbage around and drugs. I’v seen many tourist being annoyed by these young people and it is time for our town council to act!