GOLDEN — One of Golden’s main-street sculptures, “Cowboy’s Day Off,” has been removed for repairs after vandals damaged a fragile part of its design.
The bronze sculpture by artist Michael Hamby of a cowboy pulling in a fish in rushing waters can normally be seen on the northwest corner of 11th Street and Washington Avenue. However, it is currently replaced with a sign explaining it has been removed for repairs caused by vandalism.
“We believe people are going up and they are trying to hang on the fly reel part of (the sculpture) and they keep bending it and breaking it,” said Karlyn Tilley, the city’s communications manager.
Tilley said this is not the first time the sculpture has suffered damage. The repair work will be done in a way that tries to prevent future damage. She said it is not an uncommon thing to happen to some of the city’s 25 street sculptures scattered throughout the downtown Golden area.
“Anytime you have smaller parts on statues like that, they tend to get damaged easily,”she said. “We’re trying to figure out how to make that part of it stronger.”
The sculpture “Rotary Butterflies” near Clear Creek underwent a similar modification when antennae were damaged. The repair has so far worked, Tilley said.
The city’s statues are owned and managed by public works, but a specialist is contracted for the repair work.
However, she acknowledged that many of the city’s sculptures — such as “Two Deer” on the Clear Creek path near Golden Police Department and “The Monarch,” a buffalo outside the Buffalo Rose Saloon on Washington Avenue — are designed in a way that entices passersby to touch and climb them.
“We’re not discouraging people to enjoy the statues,” she said. “We would love it if people were more careful and make sure they are not damaging the statues so everyone can enjoy them.”
Josie Klemaier: 303-954-2465, jklemaier@denverpost.com
