Artist: Boy trapped in sculpture ‘a first’

Over the past 20 years, artist John Clement has created hundreds of sculptures that have been installed in cities around the world.

Until Saturday, nobody had ever become stuck in one.

The New York-based Clement said he was stunned to learn a 7-year-old boy had to be extricated from his sculpture Carocol on Saturday at Shelter Cove Community Park. Firefighters were called in after the boy wedged his knee in between the metal tubing of the spirals.

“That is a first for me,” Clement said Tuesday. “I’m certainly glad he got out okay.”

The boy’s mother, Kelly Andersen, said her son Jacob was climbing the statue when he fell, lodging his knee in between the sculpture. He was freed by Head Island Fire & Rescue Division, who use a surgical lubricant. The boy was uninjured, said Fire & Rescue spokeswoman Joheida Fister.

The incident touched off a firestorm of debate on Hilton Head and online on how the sculpture should be displayed, and if it should be climbed on.

An official unveiling of the sculpture scheduled for Tuesday was canceled while Community Foundation of the Lowcountry — who purchased Carocol after it won the town’s second annual Public Art Exhibition in 2013 — evaluates how best to display the sculpture, spokeswoman Susan DeLano said. No new unveiling date has been set.

Clement said his sculpture is meant to be interacted with. The sculptures are installed outside so people can touch it or sit on it, he said.

Clement said his children, ages 9 and 7, regularly climb on his sculptures when they’re in his New York studio. He recommended not trying to climb as high as Jacob did Saturday.

“They have to got to realize it’s not a playground,” he said. “I don’t advise climbing to the top of it. A bus shelter is not meant to be climbed, but people do it all the time.”

DeLano said the foundation is considering options such as putting up signs prohibiting people from climbing on the sculpture or roping it off. No decision has been made.

Clement said he postponed a flight to South Korea for a another sculpture installation so he could be available to the foundation. He said he was open to any and all suggestions.

“Obviously the safety of individuals is paramount,” he said. “I’m interested to hear what the next step is, and I’m not going to hold a hard-line stance against anything.”

Follow reporter Matt McNab on Twitter at twitter.com/IPBG_Matt.