Artist Sophie Ryder affixes the missing Blue Hare. Photo by Dan Fairchild.

Please help us to locate the missing Blue Hare from the Minotaur and Hare sculpture located at Van Dusen Garden!

As I mentioned last week on this blog the sculpture in Van Dusen Garden has been vandalized by someone and the Blue Hare has been stolen.

A thief used wire clippers to separate the Blue Hare from the Minotaur and it has severely affected the work.

Any assistance that you can offer in terms of helping us locate and return the Blue Hare to the sculpture is warmly appreciated.

By talking about it with your friends, posting this link to your blog, Facebook account or by tweeting this out to your followers on twitter we can hopefully raise awareness about this theft.

The loss of this piece affects the value of the work and deprives the community of an opportunity to experience this unique piece.

Here’s a brief statement from the Vancouver Biennale office:

“The police have been contacted regarding the theft. We are grateful for the support of CBC radio (who interviewed us last week over the theft), Where Magazine, Kris Krug and others.

Nothing like this has ever happened to us before – one sculpture being targeted twice in one year. The artist currently has an exhibition in Aynhoe Park, England called ‘The Kiss’ and is extremely busy. Sophie spent a great deal of time coming out to Vancouver in May to replace the last stolen hare and gave a FREE public lecture and children’s art classes at VanDusen Botanical Garden and Arts Umbrella.

Even if people don’t always respect a sculpture or piece of art, we would hope they would respect the artist and person behind it.”

If you have any information please contact any of the following:

Vancouver Biennale: 604 682 1289

Van Dusen Garden: 604 878 9274

Vancouver Police: 604 717 3321.

Lonely Minotaur Missing Its Playmate. Photo by Kevin Buehler.

Please Help Us Return the Blue Hare to its Minotaur!

Crazy, weird, sad news… but the Blue Hare has been stolen again!

And we’re asking for your help in facilitating its safe return.

The Blue Hare is a part of a sculpture called the Minotaur and Hare created by renowned sculptor, Sophie Ryder, and installed at the entrance to the hedge maze at Van Dusen Gardens as part of the Vancouver Biennale.

Sophie Ryder with Minotaur & Hare. Photo by Dan Fairchild.

Minotaur and Hare is a twisted and wrapped anthropomorphic sculpture made of galvanized wire standing on a ceramic base might at first seem a whimsical love story; but according to ancient folklore the two are incompatible opposites.

In Greek mythology the Minotaur, often portrayed as part man and part bull, is a figure of courage and terror, while the Hare symbolizes fertility, agility, and bravery.

British sculptor, Sophie Ryder, recently flew to Vancouver to re-install a replacement hare after an earlier theft from the 10ft wire sculpture.

The work has been installed at Van Dusen Garden since 2009.

The hare is an integral part of the art work, severely impacting its value. We are seeking your support in the return of the lost blue hare.

If you have any information please contact any of the following:

Vancouver Biennale: 604 682 1289

Van Dusen Garden: 604 878 9274

Vancouver Police: 604 717 3321.

Sophie finishes the installation of the blue hare. Photo by Dan Fairchild.