'Yukon Seasons' Artist Reunited with Sculpture - CBC-TV Northbeat
July 02, 2008 Filed in: Yukon Seasons Heist
LINKS: Watch this broadcast on YouTube
(moose antler skull carving, moose antler skull sculpture)
Text:
CBC Northbeat Announcer
It's one of the most talked about pieces of Yukon Art, at least in terms of what's happened to it in its short history. Now, in the latest chapter, the unique piece of art has been reunited with its creator after being stolen and damaged.
Al Foster has more in this report:
Al Foster, CBC Reporter
This is the day sculptor Shane Wilson has been waiting for since last September. The chance to be reunited with one of his prized works.
Shane Wilson, Sculptor
Oh wow, it fared pretty well, I think ... for heaven's sake!
Al Foster, CBC Reporter
It was last September when Wilson's sculpture, known as 'Yukon Seasons', was stolen from this display case in the Canada Games Centre. He had donated the piece to the City of Whitehorse and it was valued at $50,000.
The Canada-wide call went out for any information on the crime or the whereabouts of the moose skull sculpture. In April, an anonymous caller to the RCMP gave a location for the piece and it was recovered. However, not in its original state.
Shane Wilson, Sculptor
From what I can see, most of the damage has been on the upper surface. You can see here, this is the tine that was broken off during the actual theft. It was left at the scene of the crime and has been in the RCMP's keeping, so it's actually the colour and the condition that the original piece was in. It was broken off from right about here. The thieves likely reefed on the antler when they were trying to free it from the stand and that's likely how it broke off.
Al Foster, CBC Reporter
The piece has also suffered some discolouration and there's even mold growing in some areas. Since being recovered, the sculpture has been turned over to the Yukon Government's Arts and Culture Branch. That Department determined it could be restored.
Valery Monahan, Conservator, Museums Unit, Tourism and Culture, Government of Yukon
First off we're going to simply remove the mold from the surface and then we'll gauge whether it still looks discoloured and whether that's bothersome. We may not have to do anything after that in terms of the surface colouration, but we will be looking at reattaching the broken tine area with an adhesive. And really that's pretty much it.
Al Foster, CBC Reporter
The hope is to put the piece on display again, once the restoration is complete. And despite what happened in September, the sculpture's creator has no trepidation about his piece being made available again for public viewing.
Shane Wilson, Sculptor
It was made to be displayed and I think that, obviously, they'll take more precautions in terms of security, so ...
Al Foster, CBC Reporter
It's not known yet how long the restoration will take place. Shane Wilson can only hope that it will be the last dramatic chapter in his art work's short, but storied existence.
Al Foster, CBC Reporter
This is the day sculptor Shane Wilson has been waiting for since last September. The chance to be reunited with one of his prized works.
Shane Wilson, Sculptor
Oh wow, it fared pretty well, I think ... for heaven's sake!
Al Foster, CBC Reporter
It was last September when Wilson's sculpture, known as 'Yukon Seasons', was stolen from this display case in the Canada Games Centre. He had donated the piece to the City of Whitehorse and it was valued at $50,000.
The Canada-wide call went out for any information on the crime or the whereabouts of the moose skull sculpture. In April, an anonymous caller to the RCMP gave a location for the piece and it was recovered. However, not in its original state.
Shane Wilson, Sculptor
From what I can see, most of the damage has been on the upper surface. You can see here, this is the tine that was broken off during the actual theft. It was left at the scene of the crime and has been in the RCMP's keeping, so it's actually the colour and the condition that the original piece was in. It was broken off from right about here. The thieves likely reefed on the antler when they were trying to free it from the stand and that's likely how it broke off.
Al Foster, CBC Reporter
The piece has also suffered some discolouration and there's even mold growing in some areas. Since being recovered, the sculpture has been turned over to the Yukon Government's Arts and Culture Branch. That Department determined it could be restored.
Valery Monahan, Conservator, Museums Unit, Tourism and Culture, Government of Yukon
First off we're going to simply remove the mold from the surface and then we'll gauge whether it still looks discoloured and whether that's bothersome. We may not have to do anything after that in terms of the surface colouration, but we will be looking at reattaching the broken tine area with an adhesive. And really that's pretty much it.
Al Foster, CBC Reporter
The hope is to put the piece on display again, once the restoration is complete. And despite what happened in September, the sculpture's creator has no trepidation about his piece being made available again for public viewing.
Shane Wilson, Sculptor
It was made to be displayed and I think that, obviously, they'll take more precautions in terms of security, so ...
Al Foster, CBC Reporter
It's not known yet how long the restoration will take place. Shane Wilson can only hope that it will be the last dramatic chapter in his art work's short, but storied existence.