COLUMBIA, S.C. — A piece of art nestled in the Vista is gone, made off with by a thief in the night, according to the Congaree Vista Guild.
The Gong, an 8-foot by 8-foot sculpture located at 1100 Lincoln Street, was robbed of the featured gong last week.
Columbia Police are investigating.
“We are saddened by the theft of this wonderful city art piece,” said Abby Anderson, Executive Director of the Congaree Vista Guild. “We are hopeful that the police will discover who stole The Gong and return the piece to the Vista community.”
The Gong was created by Clark Ellefson and Matthew Kramer to honor the late Marvin Chernoff, a public relations executive with offices in the Vista. Chernoff was known for using a small, desk-sized gong to symbolize a job well done and a way to create closure before moving to the next project.
The Vista site for The Gong was chosen to recognize Chernoff’s early involvement in the development and repurposing of the former warehouse area and is located near the first office renovated by Chernoff and his business partner, Rick Silver.