A 20-year-old woman from Mount Gambier, South Australia, has been charged with damaging a public sculpture by sticking googly eyes on it. Amelia Vanderhorst is accused of attaching the novelty eyes to the $136,000 'Cast in Blue' artwork, known locally as the 'Blue Blob', on 13 September.
The sculpture, which represents a mythical megafauna creature and is painted blue to reflect the nearby Blue Lake, was left with two ragged holes when the eyes were removed. The damage was estimated at less than $2,500. Police allege Vanderhorst acted without lawful authority and was reckless as to whether damage occurred.
The case was adjourned until January to allow negotiations between Vanderhorst's lawyer and the prosecution. Mount Gambier's mayor, Lynette Martin, condemned the act as 'inappropriate and disrespectful', adding that it was 'not harmless fun' but costly vandalism. The council noted this was the second such incident involving the sculpture.
If convicted, it may be the first time a googly eye stunt has been punished, though similar acts have occurred elsewhere. In 2022, googly eyes appeared on statues in Adelaide, including Colonel William Light and the Big Scotsman. The practice, sometimes called 'eyebombing', has been reported globally.
