Hamilton, Ohio – The tradition continues. Albeit a little bit early this year.
As of Tuesday morning, October 29, the First Ride sculpture outside the Fitton Center for Creative Arts has an updated look.
The father pushing his child on a bicycle now dons the purple tails and green hair of The Joker. His Batman villain haberdashery lends the usually heartwarming scene a more sinister air, as if the child is trying to escape the outstretched arms of the arch-criminal.
An area prankster – or pranksters – redecorated the sculpture for Halloween each of the last several years. This year the change came two days before Trick or Treat.
The sculpture transformed to a scene from the Steven King novel-turned-movie IT in 2021, made a play on the Steven Spielberg charmer E.T. in 2022 and became a chicken-wire-and-papier-mâché alien imprinted with an approximation of a John Lennon lyric - “I am you, you are me, we are all here together” – from the Beatles hit “I Am the Walrus” in 2023.
The identity of the statue dresser remains a mystery, but nobody is going to look too hard at security video to try and figure out the instigator(s).
“We were kind of wondering if there would be another remodel,” said Ian MacKenzie-Thurley, Fitton Center Executive director. “I think secretly, we were hoping there would be.
“We love that people are interacting with the sculpture. It obviously resonates with them. They are having a good time, adding to the community conversation. Whoever is responsible, thank you. As long as there’s no damage to the piece, we’re happy to enjoy your work. It’s good fun.”
First Ride - part of the City of Sculpture collection – stands on the east side of the Fitton Center building on the north edge of the pergola at 101 S. Monument Avenue in Hamilton, Ohio. It’s visible from the street, especially as drivers come down Court Street to the intersection at Monument.
The Fitton Center for Creative Arts is located at 101 S. Monument Avenue on the Riverfront in downtown Hamilton, Ohio.
Building Community Excellence through the Arts and Culture
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