The Morro Bay Museum of Natural History is planning "Art for Art's Sake," an event at the museum set for the evening of November 3rd. Donated works of local artists will be raffled and auctioned to raise money for the repair of the Native American sculpture located at the entrance of the museum. Two years ago vandals damaged the sculpture, forcefully removing the Peregrine Falcon.
The sculpture, titled "Seasons Come / Seasons Go," is described as "a tribute to life in the estuary." It was created by Mark Greenaway and mounted at the museum in the fall of 2002. Diane Blakeslee donated the piece, which originally cost $25,000. In September of 2009, Mary Golden, Executive Director of the museum, announced the sculpture had been vandalized and the falcon stolen. Greenaway said that it would have taken considerable force to remove the bird, as it was welded securely in place. He speculated that someone had tied the falcon to a car to snap it off.
The cost of replacement of the Peregrine Falcon is $7,000, which would cover materials, foundry, a new mold, and increased security measures.
As artists, we are coming together to restore Seasons Come / Seasons Go. A fun evening is being planned, complete with a wine and micro-brewery tasting, delicious food samplings, and music. Attendees can come away with a lovely new piece for their own collection. Mark your calendar and check back here next month for news of the event.
