[MSN] One of the 10 sculptures stolen from Yale's Marsh Botanic Gardens last Wednesday night was recovered Saturday by the Yale Police Department, which has already identified one suspect in the theft.

[Museum Security Network Mailing list]

Published: Wednesday, December 5, 2007

Stolen outdoor sculpture recovered 
By Martine Powers 
Contributing Reporter


One of the 10 sculptures stolen from Yale's Marsh Botanic Gardens last
Wednesday night was recovered Saturday by the Yale Police Department, which
has already identified one suspect in the theft. 

The recovered piece, a bronze sculpture entitled "Protecting Her Children
During War #2," was valued at about $3,500, the piece's artist, Susan
Clinard, said. The sculpture had been purchased by New Haven residents, who
alerted the police when they saw a New Haven Register article about the
stolen sculptures. 

"The thieves tried to sell the piece for whatever they could," said Clinard,
who is the wife of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology professor
Thierry Emonet. 

Clinard said the individuals who bought the piece on the streets paid much
less than its actual value. 

YPD Spokesman Sgt. Steven Woznyk declined to comment on the specifics of the
investigation into the robbery, but he said the YPD is following several
leads and currently has one suspect in the case. 

The theft of the 10 sculptures from Yale's botanical garden brings to light
the security concerns arising from the display of art in public spaces. 

The culprits broke into the greenhouse of Marsh Botanic Garden - which is
located on the north end of Yale's campus - through a window, said Eric
Larson, manager of Marsh Botanic Gardens. There was no security guard or
alarm system in place to protect the artwork, he said. 

In addition to the 10 pieces stolen, he said, three were left seriously
damaged in the greenhouse. None of the sculptures was insured. 

When Clinard decided to exhibit her work at Marsh Botanic Gardens without
insurance, she said, she signed an agreement with the gardens saying that
they would not be liable for any damage to her artwork. 

"I never fathomed that something like this could happen," Clinard said. 

She said most of the galleries where she has exhibited in the past either
required insurance for the artwork or paid for the insurance themselves. 

Although Clinard said she takes full responsibility for the loss of
property, she said it would be wise for Marsh Botanic Gardens to take steps
in the future to better protect artwork on display. 

"First, they should try to get better security, and also, they should try to
help bear the weight of insurance," Clinard said. 

Because of potential threats to outdoor art displays, other botanical
gardens, such as the Chicago Botanic Garden, have heightened security to
protect sculptures and outdoor exhibitions, Melissa Shuler, public relations
coordinator for the Garden, said. 

The Chicago Botanic Garden insures all of its pieces. 

Shuler said all outdoor artwork at the Chicago Botanic Garden is anchored
down and monitored by roaming security guards who patrol the grounds 24
hours per day. This is the only way the garden can sufficiently protect its
artwork, she said. 

Public artwork displays, such as exhibitions sponsored by Artspace in
downtown New Haven, face problems with vandalism and weathering as well,
Artspace Communications Director Jemma Williams said. 

"When we have exhibitions in our public lot [on Chapel Street, between
Church and Orange streets], we understand that because we're showing art in
a public space, it's at our own risk," Williams said. 

Although the sculptures are well mounted and the police regularly check on
them, she said "it's inevitable that things happen." She referenced an
incident in which someone graffitied and etched into the glass of an
Artspace window display in Ninth Square. 

Artspace also insures all of its exhibitions, she said. 

"It's part of being a public artist," Williams said. "You get weathering,
vandalism and people interacting with your work - and that's expected.
Sometimes that's intriguing, and other times, you're saddened by the
results." 

Some artists intentionally utilize public interaction as part of their art,
Williams said. 

Larson said the Marsh Botanic Gardens would like to host other outdoor
sculpture exhibitions in the future, although they will not do so until the
Gardens introduce a security system. 

The Marsh Botanical Gardens will host a benefit concert for Clinard sometime
after Christmas, Larson said.

http://www.yaledailynews.com/