[CPProt.net] Goat stolen from gallery herd

[MSN CPPnet (Ton Cremers)]

Goat stolen from gallery herd
By Iris Kuo 
November 15, 2005

UnReal exhibit organizers are hopeful a goat will be safely returned to its
flock in the "Fainting Goats" sculpture on display in the Visual Arts
Building, where it was reported stolen Oct. 13. The artwork, which is
uninsured, featured sculpted goats on the gallery floor.

Security tapes from the VAB were turned over to the UTD police, unReal
curator Professor Greg Metz said. 

Additional information was unavailable because the theft is still under
investigation, police said. 

Metz said he would not seek to prosecute if the sculpture is voluntarily
returned. 

The missing goat marks the first theft from a UTD art exhibit in about six
years, Metz said. 

"It may jeopardize our gallery programming since we are unable to insure
work," said Metz, who teaches sculpture. "Ultimately it means that the
artist will be out the work, and word will get around, causing the artist to
no longer show with us."

While the exhibit ended Nov. 12, Metz is hopeful that the missing animal
will be returned to its original family of 10. Due to spacial constraints,
only nine of the goats, crafted by Betsy Odom were in the unReal exhibit at
the time of the theft. 

Ironically, the artwork's inspiration was rooted in the idea of a
"sacrificial lamb." "Fainting Goats" was based on the premise of a genetic
trait that caused the goats to faint at the first sign of a predator,
allowing the rest of the flock to escape. It was crafted for a display in
Lawndale Arts Center in Houston.

The artists are aware their work is uninsured when they lend it for exhibits
at UTD, Metz said. He added that he would have to ask for money to
compensate the artist, though the school is under no obligation to pay for
it.

"It's sort of show at your own risk, but most of these people we know
professionally, and they sort of trust us because we tell them we've never
had anything happen," Metz said.

He added the motive behind the theft was likely not for the value of the
sculpture or in malice. He remains hopeful that the goat will be returned to
its family.

"They are kind of cute and whimsical and interesting, and maybe they thought
'Oh well, we wouldn't miss one,'" Metz said. "I'm hoping we'll have a happy
ending to this." 

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