Vandals attack superhero statue in downtown Fredericton

A superhero statue called Atlas Man in downtown Fredericton proved no match for vandals who smashed it into the groundon theweekend.

Prince Edward Island artist Gerald Beaulieu spent weeks building the larger-than-life figure, a wood-based, clay-covered muscular man that resembles the '70s superhero Incredible Hulk.

Atlas Man appeared to be holding up the side of the New Brunswick College of Craft and Design in the city's historic Garrison District.

The sculpture was part of an exhibit of similar superheroes, all built by Beaulieu, at Fredericton's only artist-run gallery, Gallery Connexion.

Gallery board member Carol Collicutt says the sculpture was worth up to $20,000 and represented hours of work.

"To have that work negated in a flash, just on a whim, seems to me so horribly irresponsible and disgusting," she said.

"I'm just appalled. I can't believe it's happened."

A public display

Beaulieu built Atlas Man in a public space,as hundreds of tourists and city residents wandered by and watched his progress.

Collicutt says the sculpture is now in pieces under a tarp.

"Both his hands are off," she said. "And I think there's quite extensive damage to him."

Fredericton Mayor Brad Woodside is outraged by the attack on Atlas Man. He says vandalism is a problem in the city, and he wants it solved.

Fredericton police are investigating the incident, and say one of the security cameras in the Garrison District might have caught the vandals on tape.