The New York Times-20080125-Artist Compensated For Vandalized Nude- -Brief-

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Artist Compensated For Vandalized Nude; [Brief]

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Damage to the genitalia of Frank the Baggage Handler, a whimsical nude statue, will cost the City of Penticton in British Columbia $14,000, CBC News reported. The judgment was won on Tuesday by the artist Michael Hermesh, who created the statue depicting a naked man surrounded by suitcases. Many people liked the nude, which was put up in a traffic circle three years ago; others were offended by it, and some repeatedly vandalized the figure's not-so-private parts. Eventually, Mr. Hermesh said, he removed Frank to prevent further damage but offered to put it up again elsewhere. They canceled my contract, refused to pay me for having made the piece and then refused to pay for repairs, he said. So he sued and won. I'm very happy with it, he said of the outcome. It's not the actual dollar value, although this really hurt me financially. It was the exoneration, I guess. Frank has been bought by a winery in nearby Naramata and given safe surroundings.