The Chanute Art Gallery was reported vandalized around 2 p.m. Friday. According to longtime gallery volunteer Ruth Ports, the vandalism was “extremely bad.”
“It was pretty thoroughly destroyed,” Ports said. Ports said she discovered the state of the museum when she arrived to open the gallery.
Chanute Art Gallery Board President Tim Tarkelly said the bulk of the damage was to furniture, display cases, and items such as computers and TVs in the building.
“Only a small amount of the art on display was damaged,” Tarkelly said.
He noted that the board members still had to take inventory of their permanent collection and items in storage to determine the full extent of the damage.
In addition to breaking numerous items, the perpetrator discharged a fire extinguisher within the building, which coated “pretty much everything,” according to Tarkelly. The residue is considered a health hazard and Tarkelly said they would need to hire professional cleaners for the job.
“Our office is a mess,” Tarkelly said.
On Friday, the damage was visible from the front windows, with fire extinguisher residue coating the floors, exposing the footprints of those who walked through it. Sculptures were knocked to the ground, as were decorations such as flower baskets and balloons.
All of this occurs ahead of the USD 413 student art show, which was set to open next week. On Monday, April 7, students from Royster Middle School and Chanute High School were supposed to be learning how to hang artwork. This student art show is an annual exhibit hosted by the gallery; however, due to the damage, Tarkelly said the schools are now looking for an alternative venue.
As of now, Tarkelly said that the gallery likely would not reopen until May.
“We aren’t going anywhere,” Tarkelly said. “We aren’t going to close down over this. It will just take us a month or so to clean up after this.”
Detective Lucas Hendrickson of the Chanute Police Department said the investigation is open and encouraged anyone with information to contact the department.
“We will work diligently and try to get someone apprehended for this,” Hendrickson said. “This is a devastation to the community, the kids; it’s very sad.”
