Sioux Falls Police Investigating Recent Damage To Local Sculpture

The Sculpture Walk in downtown Sioux Falls has long been a point of pride for the city, showcasing creativity and culture in the heart of the community. Unfortunately, it has also been a recurring target for vandalism over the years. Over the weekend, the popular outdoor art exhibit experienced yet another incident of damage.

According to a report from Dakota News Now, Sioux Falls police responded to a vandalism call early Sunday morning, January 11, at approximately 1:50 AM. The incident occurred in the 100 block of Phillips Avenue, a central and highly visible area of the Sculpture Walk.

The police report indicates that a sculpture at that location was damaged when a piece was broken off. Witnesses told authorities they saw three or four white males walking down Phillips Avenue shortly before 2:00 AM. One of the individuals allegedly broke off part of the sculpture and threw it into the middle of the street before leaving the area.

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The damaged sculpture is estimated to be worth around $1,000. While that figure reflects the monetary value, city officials and art advocates note that the cultural and artistic loss is often far greater. Many of the sculptures on the walk are one-of-a-kind pieces, created by artists who loan their work to Sioux Falls for public enjoyment.

The Sioux Falls Sculpture Walk features more than 80 unique sculptures from artists across the country and around the world. It has become a major attraction for both residents and visitors, encouraging people to explore all that downtown Sioux Falls has to offer.

This is not the first time the Sculpture Walk has been targeted. Prior incidents were reported in 2020, when two sculptures were damaged. Another bronze statue was vandalized in 2022, followed by yet another incident involving a popular piece in 2023.

Throughout its existence, several pieces of artwork on the popular downtown attraction have been vandalized.

Dakota News Now reports that Sioux Falls Police detectives are currently investigating the latest case. As of now, no arrests have been made, and authorities are asking anyone with information about the incident to come forward.

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Gallery Credit: Ben Kuhns