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I guess it’s not really the kind of ‘art’ the city would approve.

In the artists’ community, it might be acceptable, but there’s a process that it goes through.

Do you worry that this might reflect poorly on you? That you’ve been unable to thwart the penis-pruning bandit?

It’s like having a child with bad behaviour. If you don’t address the behaviour, it’s going to continue to grow.

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=481953281922069&set=a.462597457190985.1073741830.445675608883170&type=1

And this, some would argue, is pretty childish.

It was a great novelty in the beginning, it put our sculpture garden on the map. But there comes a point in time when you’ve got to say to yourself ‘This is no longer about a prank, if you will, it’s more about someone wants to send a message.’ Well, it’s unfortunate that they don’t use their talents with our Adopt a Park program. We could really use their skills, because they’re very, very good, whoever’s doing it, at being able to, uh, shape things.

So that’s your strategy? Show yourself and we may have a job for you?

I have no qualms about it — give me a call, come see me and we’ll see if we can use your skill set.

You wouldn’t charge them with vandalism if they came forward?

That’s something we’d have to discuss with senior administration. My position would be ‘no.’

How did you react when you saw the bandit struck a third time?

My supervisor came to me [last Thursday] and said ‘John, you’re not going to believe this.’ ‘What do you mean?’ Dave showed me and I said ‘Are you serious, Dave?’ And I went out to look at it in the truck. Whoever did it put a lot of effort, I’m telling you, a lot of effort, in putting this together. [The city has since removed the word].