400-Pound Statue Of Native American Woman Vanishes From A Memorial In Kansas
Video screenshot via Landworks Studio
A bronze statue of a Native American woman, measuring seven feet and weighing 400 pounds, has been stolen from a memorial in a Kansas City park. It was originally commissioned from a local artist to celebrate the founding of the city.
Heidi Markle, a spokesperson for the Kansas City Parks and Recreation Department, said the work disappeared between August 2 and August 4, from the limestone bluff overlooking the François Chouteau and Native American Heritage Fountain, which is currently under construction.
The statue, said to be worth US$80,000, was part of a trio of sculptures by artist Kwan Wu. The works depict the city’s founder, French-American fur trader Chouteau, bartering with two Osage Indians. The sculpture was installed in April 2020.
According to The Art Newspaper, Kansas City Police Detective Steven Downing said he assumes several people were involved in the removal of the heavy sculpture, which was anchored to the platform with three mounting bolts.
Police suspect the thieves are planning to chop up the statue and sell it to a salvage yard for parts, as it’s made of 90% copper. Downing noted that the police frequently deal with the theft of copper pipes and wiring in the city.
While Kansas City parks have experienced visitors stealing memorial plaques in the past, this is the first time an entire statue was taken. Dana Nelson, co-chair of the Chouteau foundation, told the Kansas City Star she was “extremely angry” that the sculpture had gone missing.
“And then I was hurt that someone would devalue something that was an original piece of art,” she said.
If you have any information about the missing statue, please contact Kansas City Police Detective Mark Spiegel at 816-413-3425.
#CommunityAlert Please help us locate the missing statue! #KCParks #CityOfFountains @kmbc @fox4kc @41actionnews @KansasCityStar @kcur @KMBZradio @NortheastNewsKC @KCMO @godowntownkc @cityscenekc @T_NorthlandPost @McTelegraph @kcur @909thebridge @kcpolice pic.twitter.com/gDutWdVZ1k
— KCMO Parks and Rec (@KCMOParks) August 4, 2021
[via The Art Newspaper, cover image via Landworks Studio]
Also check out these recent news
