Author: simon
Arreton Hare Sculpture Stolen (photos)
Monday, 27th July, 2009 at 1:24 pm, Isle of Wight
James Pickett wrote an uplifting piece on VB back in September last year about a new Hare and Magpie sculpture in Arreton.
We were saddened to hear from him that during Saturday night someone must have taken a chainsaw to the sculpture, chopped off the hare and damaged the other section too.
Distressed
Arreton village is deeply distressed by this and are at a loss as to why anyone would do it.
We spoke to Robin Oulton, chairman of council at Arreton, who made it clear that many were upset about it, also pointing out that “the really sad thing is that it was part of the original tree that had been there for years.”
Information please
Anyone hearing any information or of someone selling a wooden hare, please get in touch with the town clerk, Pat Philips on 863129.
If you did it and have had second thoughts, they’d greatly appreciate it if you could leave it somewhere and let them know where to pick it up.
Where is it?
You’ve probably see it before as it’s become a local landmark, sitting on the other side of the road as you come to the end of Downend Road, at the junction of the A3056.
The first three shots below show it when it was first created, the rest the state it’s in now. Click on the photos to see them larger.
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So sad to read of this as it always made me smile when passing through Arreton.
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Such a shame, something that thousands of people will have seen and enjoyed will now probably end up in a garden that only a few will see.
I wonder if Robin Oulton’s quote to the CP was intentenional
“I am prepared to stump up a reward out of my own pocket, if necessary.”
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If it’s still on the Island it will be fairly obvious.
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It’s hard to know what to add, really, but many thanks to Sal and Simon for posting this. The more people who know about it, the harder it will be for the perpetrators to capitalise on the theft. Small comfort, perhaps, but I like to think of them standing over it in a garage somewhere wondering what to do next.
I rather hope they’re stupid enough to put it on Ebay…
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What a shame :-(
Funny – but the 2 magpies look all sad and lonely now….
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I carved the hare and I was deeply shocked when I saw it was missing when I drove by today. I have never had so much feedback from any other sculpture that I’ve done. It seemed to bring so much joy to so many people.
I have already been commissioned to provide a replacement, but the original hare was carved very quickly and spontaneously and was obviously already there in the tree stump waiting to be released! Any replacement wont be the same. So very bad Karma to whoever stole it.
A word of warning though for any amateur detectives. I have made several other similar hares for admirers of the original to have in their gardens, so if you think you spot it don’t call the police straight away!
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Paul – may I suggest you put a (concealed) long spike or bolt through the middle of the next one? Anything to make life difficult for repeat offenders…
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I used a chainsaw for many years and from time to time experienced the shock of kickback on cutting into a concealed object. I’ve also seen it happen to my colleagues. Luckily – and luck plays a part – I was never seriously hurt. Others are not so lucky.
I wouldn’t even joke about deliberately causing such an incident. It’s a wooden hare. It isn’t worth a life; not even the pathetic life of whoever stole it.
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I wasn’t joking. I use a chainsaw myself, but if someone deliberately sets out to vandalise and steal a public artwork and hurts themselves in the process, I have no sympathy whatsoever. Likewise for someone who cuts themselves on a window while breaking and entering – it’s self-inflicted and deserved, IMO, and if it makes them think twice before trying again, so much the better.
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Paul, we all love/d the hare and I agree V bad Karma indeed to the thief.
Look forward to seeing the replacement :-D
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“all sad and lonely”
I quite agree, Helen. When I heard about this, I was just annoyed, but when I went to look at the damage, it felt much worse than that. That hare had character and we feel a real sense of loss now he’s gone. It might sound fanciful, but the magpies look as though they feel the same way (especially as one nearly had his tail sawn off!)
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Really sad to hear this news. Such a characterful sculpture.
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How could some idiout do this
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I just read that the missing hare has been found. Hop hop hooray!
http://www.iow.gov.uk/home/pressReleases/frmView.aspx?prId=763
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I too would have no sympathy, if the person that did this had had an accident, it would be a lesson to part of the “low life” that we now have in this country. Lets just hope that it can be returned for all to enjoy as they drive past.
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It’s true. The Hare is Restored. Great news, and plans afoot to have it re-secured. Thanks so much to so many for keeping an eye out, especially the good folks of Arreton and especially especially the White Lion for arranging a collection for the work to re-site. Brilliant.
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Found on Culver Down according to BBC news Hampshire.
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