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[Ton Cremers]

Figure stolen from art installation
July 6, 2005

By DANA DUGAN
Express Staff Writer

 "American Horse" by Thom Ross, one of numerous statues dpicting the
historic events of Custer's Last Stand on June 25, 1876, was stolen from Sun
Valley Festival Meadows over the weekend.  
Photo:
http://www.mtexpress.com/index2.php?issue_date=07-06-2005&ID=2005103986
 

Artist Thom Ross' Battle of the Little Big Horn sculpture installation
depicts the historic events on June 25, 1876, in large wood and acrylic
figures held in place by metal rods. The work was installed at the Sun
Valley Festival Meadows on Sun Valley Road during the Fourth of July holiday
weekend. 

On Thursday, June 30, Ross camped out next to the installation, but was told
the next day by Sun Valley police that they "prefer he not camp there," Ross
said on Tuesday, while taking down the installation. The Kneeland Gallery
leased the land for the installation from the city of Sun Valley. 

Like Custer, Ross lost. One of the 200 pieces, the 9-foot tall "American
Horse," was stolen Friday night. 

Ross checked on the work after the Gallery Walk on Friday, July 1. On
Saturday morning, he noticed one of the metal posts was empty. 

"The way it looked, it was one of the front ones and someone just drove up,
ran and got it and drove away," he said. 

The traveling exhibition is in commemoration of the 129th anniversary of the
famous Custer's Last Stand between the 7th Calvary and an overwhelming force
of Sioux and Cheyenne warriors. Ross' paintings of the event are currently
on display at Kneeland Gallery, 271 First Avenue in Ketchum. 

After the theft, Kneeland hired a private security guard to patrol the site
until Tuesday. The gallery is offering a $500 reward for any information
leading to the recovery of the Native American figure. Call 726-5512.