Stolen sculpture reunited with artist for first time

Artist Shane Wilson breathed a sigh of relief this week when he was reunited with his sculpture, Yukon Seasons, for the first time since it was stolen from the Canada Games Centre last year.

Artist Shane Wilson breathed a sigh of relief this week when he was reunited with his sculpture, Yukon Seasons, for the first time since it was stolen from the Canada Games Centre last year.

“Oh wow, I think it beared up pretty well, for heaven’s sake,“ said Wilson after laying eyes on the much-loved carving he donated to the Yukon’s permanent art collection in 2006.

Following a power outage that knocked out the Games Centre’s security system last September, it’s believed a thief or thieves gained entry and smashed the cabinet housing the intricate piece.

During the robbery a portion of one antler snapped off and until the sculpture was returned, that piece - kept as evidence by police - was all that remained of Wilson’s work.

“I last saw it in the Canada Games Centre before I left (Whitehorse) last July,“ said Wilson. “I can hardly wait ‘till it’s back on display.“

Sculpted from a moose skull and antlers, it has been valued at $50,000 and represents three years - or more than 1,000 hours of work for Wilson. Yukon’s flora and fauna contribute to the sculpture’s distinct theme and the rich and stylistic detail add to its uniqueness.

After its theft, appeals from the public for the artwork’s safe return led to it being left anonymously in front of the Whitehorse RCMP detachment in April of this year. To date, police have no leads in the case.

It’s thought that poor handling and storage of the estranged artwork caused additional damage, as mold has taken root and parts of the sculpture suffer from a yellow-tinged discolouration.

Valery Monahan, artifact conservator for the Yukon government, is confident she can return the sculpture nearly to its former self, but couldn’t say when the restoration would be complete.

“It’s too early to tell at this point,“ Monahan said. “The object has just come to my lab so I wouldn’t want to speculate.“

Originally, Wilson was commissioned by a private collector to sculpt the piece, but donated it to the people of the Yukon after the collector was unable to continue payments.

On Wednesday, whimsy rather than frustration marked Wilson’s reaction to his sculpture’s return, albeit in less-than-perfect condition.

Speaking with reporters, the artist, who now resides in Nanaimo B.C., related how he had to redesign the piece during its creation after his dog chewed off part of the antler.

The artist also mused about the connection between creator and creation, and how the theft has added a chapter to the sculpture’s story that he was privileged to experience.

“When you make a piece of art it’s going to out live you, it goes on its own journey,“ said Wilson. “This is part of the sculpture’s journey so it’s kind of cool to see that because normally an artist doesn’t get a chance as these things tend to happen long after one’s dead.“

Heather LeDuc, art curator for the Department of Tourism and Culture, said the plan is to get it back on display at the Canada Games Centre.

“I think it was a really good place for it and it’s a popular piece,“ she said, adding some discussion with the city will take place to determine security considerations to prevent a similar incident. “(The theft) was one of those weird circumstances in which somebody took advantage of the power outage.“