As reported by Central Oregon Daily News, the City of Bend has found itself in the middle of an unexpected showdown—this one involving googly eyes, roundabout sculptures, and a surprisingly hefty bill. Eight pieces of Bend’s public art have been adorned with the cartoonish eyes in recent months, sparking both delight among residents and concern from city officials.
At first glance, it’s hard not to smile. Statues like Phoenix Rising and Big Ears suddenly appear wide-eyed and mischievous, much to the amusement of locals. But the city says this prank isn’t as harmless as it looks—removing the adhesive used to attach those googly eyes has already cost over $1,500. For context, that’s enough to buy roughly 50,000 googly eyes on Amazon, but instead, it’s being spent to carefully scrape them off without damaging the sculptures.
“The adhesive that’s used to do that really damages the art,” said Bend Assistant City Manager Stephanie Betteridge, as reported by Central Oregon Daily News. “We’re trying to get it off quickly to minimize the damage. But we’ve had eight pieces that have had eyes installed on them over the past few months. It’s cost over $1,500 to remove that.”
The vandalized art includes:
- Bueno at NW Newport Ave and NW 9th St
- Big Ears at SW Simpson Ave and Century Dr
- Crossroads at SW Colorado Ave and SW Columbia St
- Phoenix Rising at NW Galveston Ave and NW 14th St
- Orb at Skyliners Rd and Mt. Washington Dr
The city’s public art collection, donated by groups like The Bend Foundation and maintained in partnership with Art in Public Places, is a point of pride for Bend. Officials emphasize that while the googly-eyed deer or spheres may be funny, the adhesives can permanently damage the sculptures’ metal surfaces.
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Reactions from residents have been mixed. Some, like Bend local Jim Brown, seem amused but skeptical about the uproar:
“I think it’s kind of funny,” Brown said to Central Oregon Daily News. “I think it’s a little ridiculous.”
Others are fully in favor of the prankster’s handiwork. “I love it. I think it brings joy,” Melinda Hannah told the outlet. “I love seeing this guy decorated.”
For now, the city is handling the issue without involving law enforcement, instead hoping to raise awareness and deter the mysterious googly-eyed bandit from striking again.
While decorations like Santa hats and wreaths have been unofficially tolerated in the past, anything involving adhesives or graffiti is where the line is drawn. “We don’t condone decorating the statues, especially anything that damages them,” officials reiterated.
So, what’s next for Bend’s roundabouts? Will the googly-eyed prankster retire their glue stick, or will they strike again with another round of googly glory? One thing’s for sure: Bend’s public art—and its unexpected price tag—has everyone keeping a close eye out.
In the meantime, perhaps the city can take comfort knowing it’s sparked a conversation about art appreciation. Or, as Jim Brown summed it up best, maybe it’s just “somebody who’s got a whole lot of extra time.”
