Thieves, vandals destroy Capitol Hill public artwork

SEATTLE - Sound Transit meant well when it commissioned local artists to dress up an old, boarded-up building on the site of a future transit station on Capitol Hill.

But the artwork proved to be too popular - with thieves, that is.

The eye-catching prints have been ripped off the sides of the buildings. And the old, boarded-up buildings are visible once again through the gaping holes left behind.

Plywood shows through where artwork was stolen from an abandoned building at the future construction site.

"We were really excited because we were going to be able to do something for the city that everyone was gonna see, and they'll really enjoy what we did," said one of the commissioned artists, Bob Rini.

But when he came back the next morning after his artwork was hung, a giant vinyl print of a jazz trio drawing was already gone - cut from the side of the building.

"I came down here and there was a big gaping hole," he says.

Two nights later thieves took another one of his pieces.

"So I think I have a collector out there," he deadpans.

Aafter the first few prints were taken, Rini says the city came in and added some fencing to cover a gap. But there was still a gap in the fence, and the prints keep disappearing.

Says Rini: "That was gonna be up there for eight months for people to walk by and enjoy and it was colorful. And now it's just an empty wall and it's grey and most of the art is gone."

Plywood shows through where artwork was stolen from the rear of an abandoned building.

So far, 10 pieces of art have been stolen. And every time Rini comes back to check, more are gone.

To add insult to injury, vandals have spray-painted "No Trespassing" signs intended to discourage more thefts.

"That's the problem with public art, you have to take a risk," says Rini. "We didn't think it'd be this risky."

After the first few prints dissappeared, Rini says Sound Transit told him they would replace those. But since it's become a free-for-all, he's not so sure that will happen anymore.

If anyone has anyone idea where the prints are, or who might have taken them, they are encouraged to call the KOMO News Problem Solvers at (206) 404-4402.