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Red Deer's brick bunny statue is coming back — to the Dawe

Red Deer's brick bunny statue has bounced back from vandalism — and will be moved to a new home at the G.H. Dawe Centre by the end of June.
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The Brick Rabbit statue that had part of its block knocked off at the intersection of 49th Avenue and 48th Street in Red Deer has been repaired and is nearly ready to be moved to a new location at the G.H. Dawe Community Centre this month. (Advocate file photo.)

Red Deer's brick bunny sculpture has bounced back from vandalism — and will be moved to a new home at the G.H. Dawe Centre by the end of June.

Bobby-Jo Stannard, community development superintendent for the City of Red Deer, said the logistics of transporting a tonne or more of bricks must be carefully considered now that the bunny has been repaired by its original creators, Dawn Detarando and Brian McArthur of Voyager Art.

The two artists have also restored a tiled bench that had deteriorated from the elements near Original Joe's restaurant on Gaetz Avenue South.

Both public art pieces are being prepared for a move to more sheltered locations.

Stannard said the rabbit sculpture that was downtown before having part of its head smashed in 2023, is to be re- installed beside the north-side entrance to the recently expanded G.H. Dawe Centre. The decorated bench will be set down on the Ross Street Patio, although an exact location hasn't yet been finalized.

"It will be wonderful to have these two pieces of public art that were so well loved in their previous places now be refurbished" and moved to new surroundings, Stannard added. But the re-installation will not be easy.

It took a crane to lift the brick bunny from where it once sat near the intersection of 49th Avenue and 48th Street, put it onto a flat bed trailer, and take it back to Voyager Art for restoration, she said. "It is a big deal."

The rabbit's new intended home is under an overhanging eave at the Dawe, and Stannard said a way of nestling the sculpture in there still needs to be figured out. She believes more discussions will be needed.

Voyager Art was also planning another art installation sometime this year on the blast wall in front of the city's Emergency Services head office on 32nd Street. This has been delayed, however, because of the continued leaching of a whitish mineral from the dark bricks that make up the wall. Stannard said the city is working with the contractors and the artists to see what can be done.

Meanwhile, another public art renovation is complete. A wooden cart wheel has been reinstalled on the Sound the Alarm sculpture near the Red Deer Public Library. The sculpture had been missing the wheel for most of the winter as parts of the wood had to be replaced, due to weather-related deterioration.

Stannard said the City of Red Deer will next be examining murals done last year on the concrete supports the Taylor Bridge to remove some graffiti. She encourages anyone who notices vandalism on public art to notify the city's at reddeer.ca/reportaproblem.