SEATTLE — A Seattle artist says her work, meant to educate others about Islam, was intentionally damaged by a worker.
The sculptures were commissioned by the Seattle Parks and Recreation Department and are currently on display at Lake City Mini Park.
The artist blames an employee with a heating and cooling company for intentionally destroying it.
But there's some dispute over what happened.
KIRO 7's Patranya Bhoolsuwan reached out to the company to get their side of the story.
Ann-Marie Stillion created the artwork called "Unfurled," depicting three Muslim women in their traditional head scarf called the Hijab.
"This was a yearlong project where I met with Muslim women in the community for over a year,” said Stillion.
Inside each sculpture are conversations the artist has had with the women.
"I want people to lean into each other. I want us to listen to one another,” said Stillion.
But Stillion said that was the not reaction she got from a man who was working at the building next to the sculptures on Saturday.
She took pictures of him and his work vehicle after she said he knocked down one of the sculptures on purpose, telling her he hated it, and it didn't stop there.
“He started immediately yelling obscenities at me calling me a liberal *#$#%# and a bunch of nasty names I don't want to say on air,” said Stillion.
KIRO 7 tried calling Bel-Kirk Heating and Cooling Services, the company listed on the work truck. No one answered the phone.
A KIRO 7 News crew then went to the address listed for the business and saw a work truck parked out front, but no one came to the door.
On the Yelp page for the business, someone using the name Pat S. defended the company saying,
"Bel-Kirk has a great reputation in our region and an organized group of activist(s) are trying to slander an employee who was trying his best to complete a job safely in a challenging and dangerous situation."
The post went on to say:
"This is nothing more than a hate crime against a hard working guy trying to get a job done without falling off a ladder."
Stillion says she doesn't buy it.
"I am very open to freedom of speech from this guy or anyone, but it's not OK to hurt people or to be obscene to people or to destroy property."
As part of the contract, the sculptures are set to stay up in the park until mid-December. Stillion is looking to try to find a new location them somewhere in downtown Seattle next year.
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