'A Loss For The City,' Beloved Sculpture At Columbia College Destroyed
CHICAGO (CBS)-- A beloved sculpture of three wolves on the Columbia College campus was replaced by piles of dirt and twisted metal, after the artwork was bulldozed without warning.
What was once a destination spot for tourists is now a demolition site, all because of what school officials are calling an "unintentional internal error."
For more than 20 years, the cement sculpture of three wolves situated at 11th and Wabash in the South Loop has attracted attention.
"It was fun to see so many people taking pictures of themselves with it," said sculptor Ellen Nasvik, who created the work of art she calls the "Leaping Wall" for Columbia College Chicago in 1993.
Nasvik said the entire process took more than a month to complete, and involved, "welded the armatures, the planning, putting together the forms."
"It was a lot of work," she said.
Nasvik's sculpture was one of three sculptures destroyed earlier this week when the college started construction on a new outdoor space.
"Instead of being really sad about it, I guess I'm really happy that people enjoyed it for as long as they did," Nasvik said.
A Columbia College representative said officials reached out to some of the artists involved, and asked about possibly moving some of the pieces.
"Regrettably, as these attempts were being made, the sculptures were not salvaged as part of the demolition due to some internal miscommunication,"
Nasvik said no one from Columbia College tried to contact her directly.
"A new home could have been found for it," she said.
Steve Weaver, executive director of the non-profit Chicago Public Art Group, expressed his concern.
"It's just a loss for the city, it's a loss of our history, of our culture, and really it can't be replaced," he said.
Nasvik believes the school should offer up another opportunity to create something special for Chicago.
"I think that they should commission something new from the artists that they took down," she said.
The school said the new space will include a platform for performing arts, a seating area, and pathways; but gave no word on whether any new works of art will be commissioned.
