By Tanya Steele
The YAVA Art Street Library has had its little sculpture mascot destroyed for the third and last time in recent weeks.
Artist Mim Kocher who makes the sculptures was dismayed when she went for a walk past the library and saw her latest installation had been destroyed.
“I won’t make any more little sculptures as they take me many hours and I’m so sad anyone would do this continually,” she said.
Ms Kocher posted to social media about the most recent vandalism asking if anyone knew who had done it.
She has made three different sculptures in the last few years and all have been broken and destroyed.
“The first one was a little guy with headphones and he lasted about a year,” she said.
The second was an artist with a little paint palette, which Ms Kocher made to replace the first one.
“She was really cute, I was really proud of that one, it took me a long time to make,” she said.
In early April Ms. Kocher saw that the second figure had had its head taken off, with only the body remaining.
The third sculpture was based on the famous painting “The Scream” and was was ripped off and destroyed within five days.
Ms. Kocher’s husband Freddy installs the figures and they are reinforced with a strong adhesive.
The couple have cleaned and sanded down the little library, but have no plans to reinstall any more sculptures.
“Sadly, after two and a half years, I give up,” she said.
The YAVA Art Street library was originally Ms Kocher’s idea and was bought to life through funding from the Yarra Ranges Council and featured paintings on the outside by artist Amanda Ruck.
“I’m happy to say they [the paintings] have never been touched,” she said.
The sculptures have all had pieces broken off progressively and Ms. Kocher said it is unlikely that children could reach to do it.
“It cannot be little children, I don’t know who it is, someone said birds and it definitely isn’t,” she said.
Ms. Kocher said the community have been largely kind and encouraging and she is glad she posted about it on social media.
“I really appreciated it, they said don’t be discouraged, we like them,” she said.
Ms Kocher doesn’t plan to slow down as an artist, despite the treatment her little figures have received.
She hopes people will continue to enjoy the Yava Art Street library and that they always welcome new donations.
