Man smashes $240,000 worth of sculptures at Seattle exhibit

Located in the heart of Seattle, in the United States, the Seattle Center and its permanent exhibition Chihuly Garden and Glass were the target of a spectacular act of vandalism on the night of March 15 to 16. Around 11 p.m., security officers at the business park saw an individual in the outdoor garden, even though the gates had been closed for several hours.

The intruder, a certain Alexander Taylor Weis, aged 40, was enthroned among fragments of colored glass. He had just destroyed twelve blown glass sculptures. That of the artist Dale Chihuly, a central figure of the American Studio Glass movement, where glass becomes a medium of expression in its own right. Seattle police, cited by the magazine Major Artindicates that the remains of the works were scattered all over the alley leading to the entrance to the exhibition.

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According to investigators, the vandal, in a panic, threw shards of glass at one of the security guards before attempting to stab him with a shard. The guard was not injured and managed to take shelter until the arrival of the authorities who, despite the behavior “aggressive” of the intruder, managed to subdue him and take him to the station. He was subsequently charged with first-degree burglary, second-degree assault and first-degree willful damage.

Damage amounting to $240,000

According to information from Artnetthe damage is estimated at $240,000, with each of the twelve sculptures worth more than $20,000. Two days after the events, a King County judge set his bail at around $100,000. He also banned him from having contact with members of the Seattle Center. Alexander Taylor Weis reportedly failed to post bail and is still in custody.

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As for the exhibition, deprived of Dale Chihuly’s twelve blown glass sculptures, it was able to reopen its doors the next day. Staff cleared the debris overnight and did not need to block access to the outdoor garden. A spokesperson for the institution told the American press that the vandalized works will be “replaced in the coming weeks”. Museum officials declined to comment on potential security breaches that could have led to the vandal’s intrusion. Likewise, they have not indicated whether security will be increased.