COLUMBIA, S.C. — It's been 5 days since the City of Columbia began their search for a missing piece of art that memorialized the life of a beloved community activist.
"He always had a small gong on his deck and he would chime it or use it in celebration of different things… so everyone who knew him knew about his gong," said Abby Anderson, Executive Director of the Congaree Vista Guild.
While she didn't know Marvin Chernoff personally, she knew of his well-known reputation.
“He was a really big name here, everyone knows of Chernoff Newman, now the marketing agency, but it started here in The Vista as Chernoff Silver," Anderson said. "He was a big name and beloved, especially in the marketing community. There were a lot of donors that put money into making sure he was well represented after he passed.”
After Chernoff passed away in 2015, the sculpture was dedicated to him at the corner of Senate and Lincoln Streets in Columbia's Congaree Vista.
But a hole now gapes where that gold gong once hung.
“It’s really sad that people are stealing things more and more as time passes, and I’m not sure if it’s going to get any better,” said Amber Moody, who was admiring other sculptures with her family until they approached the vandalized piece.
“My first thought would be that, being this close to the college, that it would be a college challenge to steal the artwork,” Moody said.
The Columbia Police Department is working with The Vista Guild and surrounding shops to track down surveillance footage.
“We are working closely with the Columbia Police Department to try to do what we can to bring it back or find ways to repair it," Anderson said. "So, we are currently working through that now to see what repairs would be, what it would cost, so we are still very early on in that process."
Police said they are continuing efforts to investigate the theft and urge anyone to call them if they have any information that would help bring the gong back. If the gong is not found, its replacement could cost up to $5,000.
If you have any information about the theft, you can contact Crimestoppers anonymously in any of the following ways:
- Call 888-CRIME-SC (888-274-6372).
- Use the P3 Tips mobile app.
- LOG ON to www.midlandscrimestoppers.com, and click on the red “Submit a Tip” tab.