Thieves make off with moors sculpture (From Gazette & Herald)

Thieves make off with moors sculpture

THIEVES have hacked down and stolen part of a sculpture by an internationally-renowned York artist from a North Yorkshire beauty spot.

The eight-foot aluminium work of art, Two Rings, by the late Austin Wright, was commissioned in 1975 by the former Yorkshire Arts Association and stood at Helmsley Moor, overlooking Roppa Forest and East Moors.

Vandals wrecked one ring 12 years after the sculpture was built.

Last Friday, between 11am and 4pm, the remaining ring was cut down and stolen by thieves who probably intended to sell the metal as scrap.

Simon Bassindale, western area ranger for the North York Moors National Park Authority, said a member of the public had spotted a vehicle driving away from the scene. PC Steve Leach, based at Helmsley, said the registration number had been traced to an address in Cleveland and inquiries were ongoing.

Mr Wright, who died in 1997 and formerly lived at Upper Poppleton, was once acclaimed as "the most gifted living sculptor working in Britain" and dubbed the "Henry Moore of York".

After reading Modern Languages at Oxford, he moved to York in 1937, where he taught at Bootham School and the city's Art School.

At the age of 44, he gave up teaching and became a professional sculptor. During his 53-year long career he produced nearly 400 sculptures, many in his preferred material of aluminium.

He explained the concept behind Two Rings as: "It is one of those special places where for the first time you get a comprehensive view of the moorlands where both the land and the sky open out wide. I think of the sculpture as an acknowledgement of this: it concerns itself entirely with the view, like an eye, open to it."

But the piece was not appreciated by everyone, and was once likened to scrapyard junk by councillors.

Mr Bassindale said: "A lot of people either loved it or hated it. It was a landmark. It's up to other people to say whether they'll miss it or not."

Jennifer Hallam, visual arts officer for Arts Council England, Yorkshire, said: "This is a significant and early piece of art in a rural location. We regret its loss and sincerely hope it can be recovered."

Updated: 11:10 Wednesday, January 14, 2004