Campus Sculpture Given Secondhand Job

An unknown perpetrator vandalized the hand sculpture in the Fullerton College Sculpture Garden on the southeast corner of Chapman Avenue and Lemon Avenue for the second time since sculptor Todd Frahm, former FC faculty member, finished in spring 2007.

Found covered in a black substance a few minutes before 8 a.m. yesterday, the 18,000-pound Indiana limestone artwork caused much emotional distress in the Fine Arts Department.

"If the goal of this vandalism was to break our hearts, then the culprit succeeded," said Robert Jensen, dean of fine arts. "The fact we are giving any press to a miscreant of this order bothers me slightly less than the act perpetrated."

Others in the department also shared in Jenson's concerns. "I am so upset that I could scream," said Beth Solomon Marino, art gallery director. "It puts a horrible feeling in the pit of my stomach. It's just so disappointing, because it seems deliberate."

Campus Safety responded to the defacement, but Fullerton police were not called. No one at Campus Safety was available for comment.

"It is possible to apprehend people who deface property," said Sgt. Mike MacDonald of the Fullerton Police Department. "It happens when the vandal brags to someone else, or when he is apprehended in a subsequent and similar incident."

Bragging in such cases is not uncommon. Some taggers belong to groups who are very close-mouthed about their activity, but vandals who merely splash or dump paint are usually looking for attention, according to MacDonald.

In this case, "Sounds like someone who's trying to be a jerk," MacDonald said.

The sculpture, which Frahm carved for eight hours a day for three weeks, carries a deeper meaning than offering an open hand to the community.

"It is a distinguished and important piece of art," said Kathleen Hodge, president of FC. "He [Frahm] chiseled it right here, so the community saw it evolve. People stopped, honked their horns and waved at him."

Hodge planned to put a fence around the artwork, but the faculty senate turned the idea down.

"The community is connected to that piece of art," Hodge said. "It's really special. It means that this place is a place of hope. We'll do whatever it takes to restore the piece."

The black substance that currently covers the sculpture appears to be some kind of tar, according to Michele Van Ry, FC sculpture instructor.

"There's a possibility you could burn it off," suggested Ken Neidiger, ceramic lab technician.

The hand was defaced the first time in April 2007, a month after it was completed. The art department spent $4,000 to clean up the gallon of oil-based redwood stain that had been dumped over the giant hand.

"It's sad that it can't be displayed safely for everybody to share," Hodge said. "The students love to sit on it. They love to look at it. Public sculpture is a gift to the community and we will honor that."

(Cindy Cotter Contributed to this story)