Strength of the Maker was stolen over the weekend.
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By Brian Hews
The bronze sculpture in front of Extra Space Storage in Cerritos was stolen sometime over the weekend, Hews Media Group-Los Cerritos Community News has learned.
The sculpture, entitled Strength of the Maker, has been in that spot for over 20 years. John Grant, a Cerritos resident who uses Cerritos Storage reported the theft to HMG-LCCN and was very disappointed and angered about the theft.
The sculpture is an icon to us here in Cerritos, it will be missed.”
“It looks like, from the markings around the base, that they pulled up a truck, pulled the sculpture down and took it,” a spokesperson for the Cerritos Sheriff’s told HMG-LCCN.
The sculpture is valued at $34,000.
The spot where the sculpture was.
Strength of the Maker was created by Colorado artist Denny Haskew and depicts a Native American man bending a bow across his back. The bronze sculpture is meant to represent the strength of a higher power that created nature and man. It measures 60 inches high and 60 inches wide including the bow.
Haskew, a member of the Potawatomi citizen nation, is known for creating art that reflects the Native American and southwestern culture. His work has been described as intensely personal and honest, reflecting recurring themes of spirit, love, forgiveness, healing, endurance and strength. Haskew has another piece, “Luminaire,” located at the Transpacific Development Company office building in the Cerritos Towne Center.
In creating the piece, Haskew, a member of the National Sculptors Guild, states, “Strength of the Maker right from its title…to the strength shown even in the toes, is a statement of how I view my very inner belief. Nature and all things natural have always been of the utmost importance to me all my life. Believing in a God, the Great Spirit, Buddha, Mohammed, the Mysterious One and any other beings of greatness is important. I feel they all exude the same message, a life of oneness, of love, of honesty and a source of emotional strength. ‘Strength of the Maker’ is my visual version of how I see my Maker.”
A limited edition of the “Strength of the Maker” sculpture has been selected for permanent display in the Native American Museum of the Smithsonian Institution in Washington DC. It has won five best of show or first place prizes in the top art shows in the country.
Anyone with information is encouraged to call the Cerritos Sheriff’s at 562-860-0044.
Gee wiz, this will really impact many Easter Egg Hunts, as this was known kiddy hideout for candies and eggs.
Not at all surprised, when the nearby equestrian Farm property has been broken into many times. Relatively close together. How many sculptures has the city lost, aprox 6 units. Just waiting for the laundry sculpture at the former Starbuck to be stolen off of Del Amo and Pioneer.
Did they contact the neighborhood watch groups in this area?
Also there’s been hi volume of car theft at the Cerritos Auto Mall. Decade ago, Palos Verdes Estate had their Marble Italian statue stolen from Malaga Cove, it was later found in downtown Torrance broken.
Mirror mirror on the wall, I bet this Cerritos sculpture has been transported to Las Vegas or Beverly Hills and is sitting among somebody’s art collection. Cerritos needs to looks towards the city of Brea, a lot of their art in public places has security such as cameras and wrought iron grills around them. The city of Cerritos needs to do a better job of securing and protecting their our collection.
Wonder if this has any relevance towards the debates over Public Storage facilities or the sheriff sculptor proposal; both of these projects have created laundry list of enemies. What goes around, comes around.
https://www.loscerritosnews.net/2019/04/08/34000-bronze-sculpture-stolen-in-cerritos/
Another piece stolen in N Calif.
https://www.pressdemocrat.com/news/9493672-181/the-hammerhead-from-stolen-800-pound
CCC Grace Hu, speaks up, wishes to vacate Art in Public, stated that many pieces look like crap and not being maintained. Pieces located on private property, must carry full Insurance policy, which is a financial burden to property owner. Cerritos has had 6 pieces stolen from all parts of the city.
https://www.loscerritosnews.net/2019/04/08/34000-bronze-sculpture-stolen-in-cerritos/