A public sculpture debuting in 2012 as part of the final push to complete the Animas River Trail through Durango has been reported stolen.
The sculpture by local artist Dave Claussen has been missing since before May 15. It was reported stolen Tuesday – only after it became clear the sculpture hadn’t been taken down for maintenance.
The untitled work resembles two interlocking blue-and-white circles and weighs more than 50 pounds.
“It was so intricate,” said Jack Turner, who organized the Durango Connect effort for which the sculpture was commissioned. The sculpture was created to mark the final connection of the River Trail in south Durango. (Although the trail now spans Durango from north to south, efforts to extend it continue).
Turner said he had been aware the sculpture was no longer in place but waited until speaking recently with Cathy Metz, the city’s director of Parks & Recreation, before determining it had been stolen.
The sculpture was attached to a railing on an elevated portion of the River Trail behind Durango Mall. It was commissioned for Durango Connect, a celebration of completion of a missing trail section that completely linked the Animas River Trail through Durango.
The steel sculpture weighed about 50 pounds, Claussen said.
“It had some big bolts through the plates on the back, and it had a special lock washer,” he said. “It would have taken someone with a big wrench to take it off. It would not have been easy.”
The sculpture was not welded to the rail to allow it to be removed and repainted if necessary, he said. He added it would cost at least $2,000 to replace.
The work was sculpted by him and designed by graphic artist Clint Reid.
Claussen is a noted local sculptor who also created the outsized rusted steel pine cones at the entrance to the Edgemont Highlands subdivision. He also has installed two sculptures in the new Horse Gulch Health Campus.
Shanan Campbell Wells, owner of Sorrel Sky Gallery and SCW Art Consulting, described him as a “great artist,” and said she’s disappointed by the sculpture’s loss.
“I don’t understand why people would do such a thing,” she said.
Public art generally is treated well in Durango, Metz said. “This is the first that I’m aware of that we’ve had a theft like this.”
At least two incidents have damaged or taken public art in recent years. A sculpture in Schneider Park was vandalized a few years ago, she said. And a bronze cat statue owned by Campbell Wells was stolen from the entrance to the Main Mall in 2004.
Claussen said he had never experienced significant damage or theft to his works.
“I can’t say as I have had this problem anywhere,” he said.
Durango police Lt. Ray Shupe said Tuesday police had received the theft report of Claussen’s sculpture, but no further information was available.
A reward is being established to encourage the sculpture’s return. An anonymous donor has put up $200.
“What we’re trying to do is just raise awareness in case anyone is feeling guilty and would like to return it, that would be appreciated,” Metz said.
Claussen said he was disappointed to learn of his sculpture’s theft.
“I was thinking it would be there for a long time,” he said. “I can’t imagine – this is just not that kind of community,” he said.
cslothower@durangoherald.com
