“Public Art in Oregon Receives Googly Eyes, Eliciting Delight from the Community and Displeasure from Officials”
### The Great Googly-Eye Prank of Bend, Oregon: Innovation or Dispute?
In the scenic town of Bend, Oregon, a peculiar art movement recently garnered national interest, provoking a blend of public enjoyment, media excitement, and concern from city officials. Public sculptures along the city’s well-known **Roundabout Art Route**, featuring 27 works by global artists, have been humorously embellished with large googly eyes by an anonymous prankster (or group of pranksters). This playful act of “art vandalism” has ignited a conversation about the boundary between whimsical civic engagement and accidental harm to public art.
#### A Collective Grin, Thanks to Googly Eyes
Bend’s Roundabout Art Route, frequently praised for enhancing the city’s cultural vibrancy, has become a bit less serious and quite a bit more playful in recent months. Some intricate sculptures, such as Frank Boyden’s *Phoenix Rising* and Brandon Zebold’s *Orb I* sphere, were playfully animated with comically wide-eyed looks. Other pieces, including Joe Halko’s *Big Ears*, a bronze deer family, seemed less regal and more impish with their new googly-eyed appearances.
For many residents, the googly eyes have added a spark of joy to their everyday journeys. Locals have exchanged laughter and light-hearted remarks on social media, applauding the prank for fostering a sense of community and joy in unexpected venues. However, while the majority of the community embraced the amusing additions, city officials and the artists of the pieces didn’t view the gesture with the same fondness.
#### The City’s Official Reaction: A Caution with Costs
City officials in Bend were quick to respond to what some referred to as “public art vandalism,” releasing a statement urging the prankster(s) to cease their antics. While recognizing the humor in the googly-eye craze, officials underscored the potential damage caused by the adhesives used on the sculptures. “We appreciate our roundabout art,” the message stated, “but we must safeguard and maintain it.”
In addition to the visual disruption, the prank has incurred significant expenses for the city. The removal of the googly eyes from sculptures has already cost about $1,500, with a considerable part dedicated to careful steps like repainting pieces or fixing damage to wax or protective coatings. For instance, restoring *Phoenix Rising*, with its bright red finish, might necessitate a total repainting to avert rust or further decay. According to René Mitchell, Bend’s communications director, “Adhesives can detach the paint, wax, or other protective layers on the metals. If the paint on steel is chipped or stripped, the steel will corrode.” Each restoration task requires skilled conservators, and every item needs a distinct cleaning approach, making the prank’s financial and labor implications substantial.
#### Community Pushback
Even as the city called for an end to the googly-eye trend, not all residents agreed with the serious stance. Numerous commenters online criticized the city for directing resources toward what they perceived as innocuous artistic alterations, proposing that funds should instead be allocated to more urgent matters like housing or infrastructure improvements. “It’s harmless fun,” remarked one social media user. “We need more laughter, not less.”
The controversy has since sparked a national dialogue regarding public art, modern dissent, and whimsical humor. The story even made its way onto *The Late Show with Stephen Colbert*, where the host made light of the “googly-eyed uprising.” While city officials claim their motives weren’t to “be heavy-handed,” they’ve taken the opportunity to inform the public about the importance of caring for public art.
#### When Humor Confronts Preservation
The googly-eye prank prompts a broader question about finding a balance between humor, creativity, and preservation—a complex issue for cities aiming to foster vibrant artistic interactions while ensuring the durability of their public art collections. By adding googly eyes, the prankster(s) arguably encouraged greater engagement with these works, albeit in a nontraditional manner. Nevertheless, their actions also highlighted the often-overlooked maintenance necessary to keep public art in excellent condition.
It’s important to mention that this isn’t the first occasion Bend’s sculptures have been whimsically altered. Previously, sculptures have been adorned with seasonal decorations like Santa hats, leis, and wreaths, which were typically deemed harmless as they didn’t involve adhesives or irreversible changes. However, googly eyes crossed a subtle boundary by introducing a form of low-grade vandalism—even if it elicited laughter.
#### Businesses Participate in the Fun—Playfully
As discussions continue regarding the artistic value of Bend’s sculptures, some local businesses have embraced the googly-eye phenomenon with a sense of humor. The Pine Tavern restaurant shared an image of giant googly eyes on its building, joking, “This googly-eye trend has got to STOP!” An axe-throwing venue known as The Unofficial Logging Co. playfully got in on the action too, attaching googly eyes to one of their targets with the caption