The Lawrence Arts Center’s iconic Red Dancer sculpture stirred up the staff and community members with her sudden disappearance, but fortunately she has simply gone on vacation from her home in front of the building.
The sculpture, donated by Jan Gaumnitz, has sat in the same location in front of 940 New Hampshire St. since 2009, according to a news release from the center. But Friday morning, she “disappeared without a trace,” according to the release.
“I came into work, like any other day, and I immediately knew something was wrong,” Mariah Seifert, director of content for the Arts Center, said in the release. “I had to pause before it hit me: the Red Dancer is gone! Poof! How could an 18-foot sculpture disappear without anyone noticing?”
A certain reporter even reached out to the Lawrence Police Department to ask if a report had been made, considering the dancer’s sudden disappearance.
Fortunately, Margaret Weisbrod Morris, CEO of the arts center, said the Red Dancer didn’t tell staff exactly where she’s going, but she is on vacation. After so many years of hot summers under the sun in front of the building, she really needed a break.
Morris is pretty confident that the Red Dancer will return. She especially loves the kids who come to visit her.
“I don’t know if she would feel at home anywhere else,” Morris said. “So I hope she comes back. I think she will. But again, I’m hoping she drops us a line and give us some information about where she is.”
If the arts center receives any vacation photos from the Red Dancer, they’ll likely be posted on social media with the hashtag #findthereddancer.
And if you happen to spot the Red Dancer while she’s away, you can report sightings at lawrenceartscenter.org/find-the-red-dancer, according to the release.
“Further, volunteers are needed to greet students and visitors throughout the day in the Red Dancer’s absence,” according to the release. “The only requirements are to dress in red and do a lil’ jig as patrons enter the building.”
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Mackenzie Clark (she/her), reporter/founder of The Lawrence Times, can be reached at mclark@lawrencekstimes.com. Read more of her work for the Times here. Check out her staff bio here.
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