Staff Report
The large beer stein sculpture that was installed temporarily in the median of First Street in Solvang was removed in November after accusations against the late artist who made the piece began to circulate in town.
Multiple people reported getting a flyer on their vehicles that alleged that the sculptor of the beer stein, Morris Bear Squire, had harassed and tried to kidnap two young girls from Solvang. The flyer was reportedly made by the mother of the two girls, who were not identified. However, court records indicate a person named Morris Bear Squire was charged in 2010 with two misdemeanor counts of battery and annoying/molesting a child.
“The purpose of the public art piece was to fill a void left by the removal of the oak tree, not create controversy in the community. We will be pursuing a replacement piece with the City Council subcommittee that was created to look at public art in other locations in Solvang. That subcommittee consists of council members Joan Jamieson and Karen Waite,” according to City Manager Brad Vidro.
The giant beer stein was made by the late artist, hospital administrator and psychologist Morris Bear Squire, and it is on loan from the Morris B. Squire Foundation in Santa Barbara. The nonprofit foundation focuses on creative empowerment through the arts. Calls to the foundation were not returned.
