A bronze sculpture of a bull was removed from Riverside Park after vandals left it damaged beyond simple repair. This photo shows city workers moving the sculpture in 2008.

Image Credit: SUBMITTED/Charo Neville

The bull display at Riverside Park had enough vandalism over the years, and it's time to move.

City workers used a crane to remove Obilix, the bronze bull at Riverside Park, so its finish could be repaired, Kamloops Art Gallery curator, Charo Neville, said.

"It has just really attracted a lot of graffiti," she said. "There's a certain point where you can't take the graffiti off anymore and it needs professional conservation."

It was moved a "couple weeks ago," Neville said. Now there's a flower bed left in its place, just off Lorne Street near the 1 Avenue intersection.

She couldn't say exactly when it will be repaired, but there is no one in Kamloops qualified to restore the patina finish.

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"It's going to be a job to get someone here to get someone here to do the work. It's beyond the conservation skills that we have at the gallery."

Until then, she said the art gallery and the City will be looking for a new location for Obilix, but it's a delicate balance to find a new space that's in a high-traffic area to be appreciated as public art, yet free from future vandalism.

The art gallery would have the patina finish buffed every summer, but continued abuse means it requires more intensive work to restore.

There's one part of Obilix's anatomy that's been particularly favoured by vandals.

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"Well, I think the artist had really emphasized the testicles as part of a conversation of the bull as part of the cattle industry," Neville said. "He could have chosen to leave it out, but he wanted to make it anatomically correct."

Unfortunately, the prominent and anatomically correct testicles became a target for vandals over the years, often with pink spray paint, Neville said.

The sculpture was first acquired by the Kamloops Art Gallery in 2001 from artist Joe Fafard.

Obilix was acquired by the Kamloops Art Gallery in 2001. It will soon find a new location in the city to avoid future vandalism.

Image Credit: SUBMITTED/Kamloops Art Gallery

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It was part of a series of bulls Fafard sculpted and the park was chosen for the Kamloops installation, commemorating the historic cattle market at Riverside.

Both Obilix and Peter Hide's After Rome sculpture, on Victoria Street, will soon find new homes after restoration work, Neville said.

Hide's work, Neville added, wasn't the victim of graffiti like Obilix. Instead, it was moved because of construction at the property.

"They're public art works, so they're not meant to be in a private space... but places where they can be appreciated," Neville said.

Go here for more information on collections at the Kamloops Art Gallery.

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