The Theft of Sparkly Bear from Brunswick

On Wednesday, September 11, 2024 the Sparkly Bear statue was stolen from the Barkly Square shopping centre in Brunswick. The Brunswick Voice reported that -
The life-sized brass statue of a bear riding a tandem bike was removed from the centre in the early hours of last Wednesday, September 11, and its whereabouts remain a mystery. Police believe the thieves reversed a truck into a laneway near Barkly Square about 4am. Three people got out of the truck and used an angle grinder cut through the base of the statue before lifting it with a crane onto the truck. They then fled into Barkly Street. Police said the statue is valued at $60,000. 

The report continues -  

The statue was installed in the laneway between the front and rear sections of the shopping centre in October 2018. It was made on a commission from the centre’s owners by Sydney-based sculptors Gillie and Marc Schattner. “We are absolutely shocked and heartbroken to learn that our beloved Sparkly Bear sculpture was stolen from Barkly Square,” the couple said in a statement to Brunswick Voice. “This piece was created with the intention of bringing joy and a sense of connection to the community, and to see it taken in such a way is devastating."

“We believe that public art plays a crucial role in fostering shared experiences and creating spaces where people can come together. We urge anyone with information to come forward, as we hope for the safe return of Sparkly Bear so that it can once again be enjoyed by the community.”

Sparkly Bear

Image: https://gillieandmarc.com/products/sparkly-bear

This is a mean spirited theft of a delightful and loved sculpture which brought joy to people of all ages in the community. 

Sparkly Bear

Image: https://gillieandmarc.com/products/sparkly-bear

Should you have any information about  Sparkly Bear, contact the police or please leave a comment below or see 'Contact us' tab for anonymous emailing.

Should you actually possess the item and wish to return it its rightful owners or custodians, please contact us.

References
Sparkly Bear Missing after Brazen Theft - Brunswick Voice September 18, 2024, read.
Sparkly Bear Arrives at Brunswick Square https://barklysquare.com.au/whatson/sparkly-bear/
The website of sculptors Gillie and Marc  https://gillieandmarc.com/products/sparkly-bear

Not without Chomley sculpture at Gasworks Art Park

The City of Port Phillip issued this report on their Facebook page on November 27, 2023 -
Someone has stolen part of the bronze sculpture ‘Not Without Chomley’, by artist Anne Ross from the grounds at Gasworks Arts Park. The sculpture is part of the City of Port Phillip Collection, purchased as a gift to the people of South Melbourne in 1991. We are asking for any information on the whereabouts of the single standing dog, in the hope that it is returned.  The contact details for the City of Port Phillip can be found here 

The complete 'Not without Chomley' sculpture

Image: City of Port Phillip Facebook page

'Not without Chomley' sculpture, November 2023

Image: City of Port Phillip Facebook page

The Gasworks Arts Park was established on the site of the old South Melbourne (later the Metropolitan) Gas Company works. During May and June 1991 the GAS Outdoor sculpture exhibition was held at the park and 'Not without Chomley' was one of the sculptures created for this exhibition. 

A report in The Age in May 1991 noted the risk of potential vandalism -  showing sculpture in a public place has its difficulties - the artists have been rostered on site 24 house a day not to offer guided tours but to protect the works from vandals. The City of South Melbourne purchased 'Not without Chomley' in July 1991 and it was the first permanent installation in the Sculpture Park. 

Sadly a few months later Anne Ross' sculpture fell victim to vandals. The original sculpture was of cement fondu, which was all the artist could afford at the time; this was a fragile material and it was smashed with a sledge hammer. The City of South Melbourne had it recast in bronze and it has been on display and enjoyed by many for the past thirty years.

'Not without Chomley' is  now incomplete as the little dog has been stolen. If you have any information contact the City of Port Phillip, details here.

Sources

• City of Port Phillip Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/cityofportphillip
• Grogan, Robert Gasworks to Gasworks: from an industrial complex to an Arts Park - https://www.gasworks.org.au/about-us/history
• Lancashire, Rebecca Sculptors out in the open -  The Age 22 May, 1991, p. 13
• https://www.gasworks.org.au/visit-us/public-sculptures/not-without-chomley

Lost or missing sculptures of Glen Eira

 Lost or missing sculptures of Glen Eira by Carol Stals 

Originally published in the Glen Eira Historical Society Newsletter Number 11, November 2016  and used with permission.

Glen Eira seems to have mystery surrounding some of their sculptures.

One sculpture was the work Kore by Karl Duldig which was unfortunately stolen from its base in the Elsternwick Shopping Centre in 2013 [from outside the Post Office in Staniland Grove]. It was quite a few days before the disappearance was noticed.  The police have not been able to trace it. [A duplicate sculpture was commissioned by the neighbouring City of Stonnington and installed in Central Park, Malvern East in 2016.]

Kore by Karl Duldig

https://www.duldig.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Karl-Duldig-Public-Works-of-Art.pdf

Another work, Isabella, was created in memory of Isabella Webb, the 19 year old daughter of Judge George Webb of Crotonhurst.  She died in India in 1876 while on a trip with her father. 

Historian Dr Geulah Solomon notes: “The marble sculpture of Isabella, which Webb subsequently had cast by Charles Summers, the sculptor of the famous statue of Burke and Wills, now stands in the Caulfield City Hall" (1)  

In 1981, the Caulfield Historical Society had a brass plaque made and placed on the statue in Caulfield Town Hall (2). 

A third piece of sculpture was the bronze statue of a small child kneeling.  It was a drinking fountain made for the Railway Reserve beside Elsternwick Station then shifted to Greenmeadows Gardens.  This was designed and executed by Paul Montford, creator of the Adam Lindsay Gordon piece, plus major works on the Shrine of Remembrance.  It seems to have disappeared many years ago

What a strange history of three valuable sculptures disappearing.  Does anybody remember Isabella or the Kneeling Child?  Do you know the answer?

Footnotes -
1. G Solomon, Caulfield's heritage, volume 1 Caulfield's building heritage, City of Caulfield 1989, page 36.
2.  Caulfield Historical Society Newsletter 18, August 1981, page 64.

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More information:

Kore - https://www.stonnington.vic.gov.au/Community/Arts-and-culture/Public-art-collection/Kor%C3%A9 

Crotonhurst - https://victoriaspast.blogspot.com/2021/01/mr-justice-george-webb-of-croton-hurst.html

Should you have any information about this item's history or location, please leave a comment below or see 'Contact us' tab for anonymous emailing.

Should you actually possess the item and wish to return it its rightful owners or custodians, please contact us.

Larry Latrobe sculpture

It is thirty years since Pamela Irving's sculpture, Larry Latrobe, was installed on the footpath in Swanston Street.  In August 1992, John Stevens, writing in The Age newspaper described Larry as a slightly larger than life-size bronze dog, a grinning bitzer of a beast, which will be mounted where it will take pedestrians by surprise (1). Larry spent three years watching activity in the City Square (2) until August 1995 when he was stolen, in spite of being tethered to the ground by 30 cm long bolts.

A new Larry was recast by the foundary owner, Peter Kolliner, although Pamela Irving slightly altered the new Larry's colouring to give him an individual look. New Larry was unveiled on 16 September, 1996.  In 2017, due to the Metro Tunnel works Larry was removed from his City Square home and the next year re-located outside the Melbourne Town Hall. 

Larry in the City Square

Image: Pamela Irving's website https://www.pamelairving.com.au/

Larry was based on Pamela Irving's own dog, Lucy, and named for her uncle, Larry. Larry the dog still delights Melburnians, but where is the original Larry?

Should you have any information about this item's history or location, please leave a comment below or see 'Contact us' tab for anonymous emailing.

Should you actually possess the item and wish to return it its rightful owners or custodians, please contact us.

Footnotes and Sources
(1) Echoes of art along the Walk by John Stevens. The Age, 15 August 1992, p. 2
(2) Street sculpture finally turns the corner by John Schauble. The Age, 31 July 1994, p. 5

Other references
Larry Latrobe City of Melbourne City Collection https://citycollection.melbourne.vic.gov.au/larry-latrobe/
Pamela Irving website https://www.pamelairving.com.au/
Viginia Trioli column in The Age, 18 September, 1996, p.17