Kim Bell
ST. LOUIS -- The "Angel of Harmony" statue outside the Cathedral Basilica was damaged by a vandal tampering with construction equipment, police said.
Officers arrested a 35-year-old man they found hiding nearby.
The sculpture, 14-feet tall and made of welded stainless steel, was installed in 1999 on the lawn at the Cathedral between the rectory and the church. It depicts a smiling, Black angel protecting three multi-cultural children playing instruments. On the angel's wings are more than 100 wind chimes.
The purpose of the sculpture, by Polish sculptor Wiktor Szostalo, was to introduce people to different forms of religious images -- and reflect a theme of racial harmony.
The statue was off its pedestal Wednesday. Part of one of the children was broken off, and the wings appear to be damaged. Church leaders said they hoped it could be restored.
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Police were called to the cathedral about 8 p.m. Tuesday because a man was seen tampering with construction equipment. Police found a boom lift had been dropped onto the statue. The man also apparently fired a gunshot at a parked car, police said.
Police watched surveillance video and came up with a suspect. Officers saw him in the Central West End but he ran off, police said.
A police dog, Finn, searched with officers and found him hiding near Euclid and Maryland avenues, police said Wednesday morning.
Detectives were interviewing the man and haven't disclosed what his motive was for damaging the sculpture.
The children in the statue were said to be playing a song of peace on their instruments.
"The irony, that a symbol of peace would be destroyed like that," said Lisa Shea, director of community and media engagement for the St. Louis Archdiocese.
"It's my favorite piece, just because of what it means," Shea added. "I never go by without stopping and visiting, looking at it, re-reading the beautiful caption on the pedestal."
Its pedestal, made of black African granite, was inscribed with quotes from the New Testament, Pope John Paul II and Martin Luther King Jr.
The sculpture was a gift from Adelaide Schlafly in memory of her late husband, Daniel.
Before the statue was installed, an article in the St. Louis Review said it would "emphasize the theme of harmony, peace and racial justice, according to Auxiliary Bishop Edward K. Braxton."
In front of the angel were "three children with Hispanic, Asian and European features playing a hymn of peace on diverse instruments," according to the article.
On Wednesday morning, St. Louis Archbishop Mitchell Rozanski said he hoped the statue can be restored.
"The Angel of Harmony has graced the grounds of our city's Cathedral Basilica since 1999, as a joyful reminder that our diversity is something to be celebrated, that truth, beauty and goodness unite us all," Rozanski said in a statement released by the Archdiocese.
"We need to be reminded of that daily. We are still learning about the extent of the damage, with great hope that this special sculpture can be restored," Rozanski said.
Check back for updates.
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