December 16th 2024.
The city of Bend, Oregon has recently been dealing with a bit of an unusual issue - an unknown person has been going around town and putting googly eyes on public art sculptures. This playful prank may seem harmless at first, but it has caused quite a stir within the community.
It all started when someone decided to glue large googly eyes onto various artworks scattered throughout the city. The idea quickly went viral, and the person responsible for the eyes has now been dubbed the "Googly Eye Bandit" by local news outlets. The bandit's targets included a six-foot orb, a family of deer, a phoenix, and many other art installations along the city's designated art route.
However, the city was not amused by this creative act of vandalism. In fact, they have spent over £1,000 to remove the googly eyes from the sculptures. The city's social media pages were flooded with pleas for residents to put an end to the prank. They explained that while the eyes may bring a chuckle, the removal process is not only costly, but it also requires delicate care to avoid damaging the art.
Despite the city's efforts, some residents are not happy with the crackdown on the Googly Eye Bandit. One person commented that perhaps the city could use some of the money from the rising housing market to hire someone qualified to remove the eyes without causing damage. Others agreed, arguing that there are more pressing issues that the city should be focusing on rather than a harmless prank.
René Mitchell, the city's communications director, also chimed in, explaining the potential damage that could be caused by the adhesive used to attach the eyes. She emphasized that the paint and protective coatings on the metal sculptures could be pulled off, resulting in rust and other forms of damage. However, she did acknowledge the humor and interest that the community has shown towards the prank, and assured that the city's main concern is preserving the art for future enjoyment.
The Googly Eye Bandit's actions have even caught the attention of national television, with comedian Stephen Colbert mentioning it on his talk show. He found it laughable that anyone would be upset about such a harmless and fun prank.
Interestingly, using googly eyes as a form of art is not a new concept. Bulgarian artist Vanyu Krstev has been using them to bring broken objects to life in a project he calls "eyebombing." He described it as a type of street art where small plastic eyes are placed on inanimate objects to give them the appearance of a living being. Vanyu's goal is to spread joy and warmth to those who come across his creations.
In the end, while the Googly Eye Bandit's actions may have caused some inconvenience and expense, they have also brought some lightheartedness and humor to the city of Bend. And perhaps, in the grand scheme of things, that's not such a bad thing after all.
[This article has been trending online recently and has been generated with AI. Your feed is customized.]
[Generative AI is experimental.]
