After a man suffering from a mental health crisis set art of a mammoth and the 'Beachlands' sign on fire on Monday (July 15), Paul Lewis, a West Shore-based artist, said he could salvage most of the damage.
"I am just waiting to hear from the powers that be to set up when I have to go there," Lewis said.
He said that in addition to the sign, his eagle sculpture on display was also damaged during the fire, and is beyond fixing.
"The eagle has been ripped apart. I can't fix it. I'd have to make something new. Buddy smashed the head off, ripped the wings, and then ripped the body off," he said.
According to the RCMP, the 41-year-old man was arrested following the incident and was in police custody and was recommending charges of arson causing damage to property and mischief over $5,000.
"At least he was caught," Lewis said.
Lewis' sculptures can be seen throughout the West Shore and Greater Victoria, including a slate of 16 different installations at the Esquimalt Lagoon.
"The sculptures at the lagoon have not been smashed or destroyed; I mean, there's a few of them that are, you know, with eyeballs falling out or feathers falling off."
Despite the damage done to the sign, Lewis said he is looking forward to his next project, taking place at the Juan De Fuca Recreation Centre.
"I am going to do a big cougar up in the tree and staring at a mama bear looking down, and she is going to be hanging on to a tree with a couple of babies," he said.
He added he planned on making a documentary for the project, but the funding fell through. Despite that, the documentary will continue on his own terms.
"The documentary crew bowed out, and I was like, 'well, I'll do it for free," he said.
