Amelia Vanderhorst: Graffiti conviction for Australian woman who stuck googly eyes on Blue Blob
amelia vanderhorst, 20, pleaded guilty to a graffiti charge at Mount Gambier Magistrates Court on Tuesday (ET) after sticking googly eyes on the Cast in Blue sculpture last September (ET), saying she had been under the influence of drugs and alcohol that night. She was ordered to pay A$2, 000 in compensation and to complete 60 hours of community service as part of the sentence. Court statements and defence comments say she has taken steps to address the issues that led to the incident.
Details of the conviction
The court heard that the offence took place last September (ET) when the sculpture, known locally as the Blue Blob, was altered by the placement of adhesive googly eyes. Michael Hill, her lawyer, told the court that amelia vanderhorst had been under the influence of MDMA and three litres of vodka on the night of the incident. Vanderhorst initially faced a property damage charge that was amended to a graffiti offence after negotiations with the prosecution.
Magistrates ordered compensation and community service rather than a custodial sentence. Hill said she later cancelled a crowdfunding campaign for legal costs and returned donated funds. He also said she has reduced her substance use and focused on stabilising her personal circumstances; “She is committed to making better decisions moving forward, ” Hill said.
Reactions to Amelia Vanderhorst
Lynette Martin, the local mayor, described the placement of the googly eyes as “wilful damage to a valued public artwork” and warned that repairs would be costly because the stickers could not be removed without damaging the sculpture. Officials noted the Cast in Blue installation cost A$136, 000 and has been a point of debate in the community since it was unveiled last July (ET).
The sculpture’s designers drew inspiration from an ancient marsupial ant-eater found in local caves, describing the creature as “massive, lumbering and fascinating, ” a detail cited when the work was first installed and discussed locally.
Background and what happens next
Cast in Blue was unveiled last July (ET) and quickly earned the nickname Blue Blob; its price and design provoked mixed local reactions when first proposed. The sentence requires payment of compensation and completion of community service hours, and local attention is likely to remain on both the condition of the artwork and how restitution is carried out.
The court outcome leaves amelia vanderhorst with immediate obligations to satisfy the order and with public scrutiny over repair costs and community views on public art; officials and the defendant have signalled a focus on repair and personal rehabilitation in the weeks ahead (ET).
