The Port Townsend Creative District is dealing with a recent rash of public art vandalism.

Mitzi Jo Gordon, manager of the Port Townsend Creative District, said the Tyler Plaza sculpture was vandalized several times over the course of a week, the last time involving the removal of its “head.”

“I discovered the latest damage in the early afternoon on Sunday, Aug. 4, while walking to my studio on Water Street,” Gordon said.

The Tyler Plaza sculpture is one of the Creative District’s five “art markers” created by artist Jonah Trople, each one installed at a different location in Port Townsend in June 2021.

On July 29, after “a particularly vehement round” of written graffiti simultaneously appeared on three of the five sculptures, Gordon approached the Port Townsend Creative District subcommittee, about “exploring alternative approaches” to dealing with vandalism.

“On Friday, Aug. 2, I was encouraged by a committee member to begin developing a proposal and funding strategy that would allow for hiring local artists to paint these sculptures seasonally,” Gordon said, noting that this would need approval from Trople, the ArtsWA state arts commission and “other collaborators.”

Gordon added, “Unfortunately it looks like this idea isn’t coming to fruition fast enough, or perhaps might not be an adequate solution.”

According to Gordon, the intent of the art markers was to serve as “a creative wayfinding system,” visually connecting the historic districts with Fort Worden. Each one bears a QR code that links to the Creative District website and its directory of local artists.

“Each one is unique, but all were created in the same rustic, contemporary style,” said Gordon, who added that Trople created the logo for the Creative District, which features an image of the five sculptures.

The project was funded in part by private donors, and by a matching grant from ArtsWA, through the Washington State Legislature.

At the time of the project launch, Trople was living and working in Port Townsend, but he’s since moved to Hawaii.

As of press time, Gordon was still consulting with the Creative District committee to determine an official estimate on the amount of damage, but her understanding is that the total project, including all five sculptures and the logo design, originally cost $49,000.

“Without its top portion, the one ‘decapitated’ pillar is irreparably damaged,” Gordon said. “Theoretically, it could be reassembled, if the missing piece was returned, but that seems unlikely.”

A representative from the Port Townsend Main Street Program, which serves as the fiscal sponsor of the Creative District, has contacted local law enforcement to make an official report.

“I am not interested in doling out punishment or fines,” Gordon said. “My interest is in finding out the underlying issues and grievances behind what is obviously a strong emotional response to these items.”

As the state arts agency responsible for designating arts districts, ArtsWA has also been informed.

For more information on the art markers, visit ptcreativedistrict.org/art-markers online.