GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — The missing piece of an ArtPrize installation has been returned to the artist after going missing on September 15.
Promenade de'Carousel is a piece made up of several hand-crafted sculptured utilizing jewelry, crystals and textiles inside the JW Marriott hotel in Downtown Grand Rapids.
Artist Marv Graff from Kansas City, Missouri, told 13 ON YOUR SIDE each sculpture is its own unique vision. After the black crown made of Austrian crystal stones went missing, he made an appeal for whoever took the crown to simply return it.
"Monday morning I got a call from security at the hotel and asked me to come down, and Detective Ray was here with the crown," said Graff.
He expressed thanks to the work of Grand Rapids Police, hotel security and the ArtPrize staff for their support.
Graff explained the piece was mistakenly taken by a woman and her daughter. He said they had picked up the crown to take a photo and forgot to place it back.
"Everything is one of a kind. I find things and sort of put them together, and I would never be able to find that crown," said Graff. "I'm just happy to have it back."
The crown is back on display adorning the swan sculpture's head. Graff says he did find a temporary crown to use in the interim from Stoffer Home on Wealthy Street.
"Respect the art pieces and sort of think about how much time is involved in making things like this," said Graff. "Just respect them more, because I know there was another incident that was really bad too. It's not only me."
An ArtPrize sculpture called Addiction Swapping by Thomas Ackerman was found missing from Canal Park on September 13. Several parts of the sculpture have yet to be found by the artist, other pieces were found in the Grand River.
The recovered pieces and a photo of the original piece are on display in the ArtPrize Hub.
Anyone with information on the case can contact Grand Rapids Police or Silent Observer.
ArtPrize says they partner with GRPD and various city departments to keep participants and guests safe, and asks for people to report any act of vandalism they see to any of the artwork.
People can also contact support@artprize.org to notify ArtPrize staff of any acts of vandalism.