Vandals who pushed over and damaged sculptures at Church Road Winery in Taradale have prompted an early end to the Sculpture in the Park show.
Curator Hilary Smythe said it was disappointing, especially for the sculptors who put their time and energy into the works.
One of the three works pushed over
had a piece broken off - John Wolter's Dancer was now missing her attached fantail.
"It was welded on and would have been very difficult to remove," Ms Smythe said.
"It took a real determined effort to get it loose."
The work was a unique piece by the Nelson sculptor in steel, brass and copper and was his first large-scale work of its kind. It would be difficult to fix.
"If we can get the bird back, that would help with the repair," Ms Smythe said.
"It represents hours of work by a man who relies on his skill for a living. This is a very cruel blow."
The item may have been tossed aside or given to someone but she would be grateful if the fantail could be returned to Church Road Cellar Door.
A gardener noticed the sculptures had been pulled over to the ground on Christmas Day but during the weekend they were stood up again.
It would have taken at least two people to push Dancer over and three to put it back up.
The sculptors and Church Road Winery had hoped to make the exhibition a regular event, bringing work from throughout the country to Hawke's Bay. It was no longer a risk they were prepared to take, Ms Smythe said.
"It's absolutely gutting. The sculptors are putting works where they don't usually reach. They've taken that chance and it's really disappointing."
