People put googly eyes on sculptures in Bend

(JANUARY 3, 2025) In Bend, someone put big googly eyes on eight sculptures. Many people thought it was funny. The city was not happy. It costs money to fix.  

People started to see the googly eyes in August. They put eyes on sculptures along a route with 27 art pieces.  People call the prankster the "Googly Eye Bandit." (A prankster plays jokes or tricks on people. A bandit is a thief or criminal).

Some sculptures, like a deer, looked funny with the eyes. Many people laughed. They shared pictures.  

The city said it costs $1,500 to remove the eyes without hurting the art. The glue can hurt the paint and metal. One sculpture also had graffiti. It will cost $5,000 to fix it. 

Some businesses joined the fun. They put googly eyes on their buildings. The prank was even on a comedy TV show.  

The city said the prank is funny, but they want to keep the art safe. They are not trying to find the prankster.