Remaining Figures of the QE Park Sculpture Photo Session Have Been Removed for Refinishing

January 13, 2009 (No. 2) - Park Board staff have removed the remaining three life-sized figures of the bronze sculptural group located in Queen Elizabeth Park for repairs, refinishing and remounting for improved security. In June, 2008 the fourth figure in the sculptural group by J. Seward Johnson entitled Photo Session was stolen from the view plaza at the top of the park. Police later recovered the stolen figure but an assessment indicated the need to repair damage caused when the thieves pried the sculpture from its mounting.

The Sculpture Foundation, which represents the artist J. Seward Johnson, has offered to handle all the repairs and refinishing at the Foundation's expense. The offer includes assessing and restoring the figure that was stolen and returned, as well as refinishing the other figures that make up the work.

Repairs to the sculptural group will be carried out at the Foundation's atelier in New Jersey.

It is expected that the popular sculpture will be reinstalled in the park by late spring. A celebration to mark the return of the sculpture is planned once it has been reinstalled.

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For more information contact Carol DeFina, Communications Coordinator, at 604-257-8440.

The Vancouver Board of Parks and Recreation maintains 220 parks and 40 major facilities throughout the City of Vancouver. The Park Board's mission is to provide, preserve and advocate for parks and recreation services to benefit people, communities and the environment.