For the past two weekends, a sculptor and a local art center director have worked to restore a statue vandalized with white supremacist language.
Norman’s Firehouse Art Center was one of three places in the area targeted with white supremacist vandalism. A victim of the attack was “Olivia,” a statue by sculptor Richard McKown. During the incident, Olivia was defaced with swastikas, the word “Jewess” and red paint resembling blood.
Douglas Elder, the art center’s executive director, said he and McKown have worked the past couple weekends to make the statue “as good as it was when it was first created.”
“We didn’t want to leave any trace behind,“ Elder said.
Elder said the team used a special soy-based product to clean the statue. This was gentler than other petroleum-based products, which he said can leave a residue.
“It took about three rounds of cleaning, and we were able to strip the majority off,” Elder said.
The only subject in the case is Allison Johnson, 45, who surrendered herself to police and was booked into the Cleveland County Detention Center on a complaint of terrorist threats.
The art center remains a welcoming place for all community members to gather, Elder said.
“That’s why (the vandalism) was such a tragedy,” he said.
He said he hopes the art center and community can exist in peace from here on out.
