Talk about a sight for sore eyes.
A city in Oregon is pleading with locals to stop taping googly eyes onto roadside sculptures as the goofy gag is costing a pretty penny.
Officials in Bend noticed the oversized optics taped onto metallic artwork of deer and geometric shapes at roundabouts throughout the area.
“While the googly eyes placed on the various art pieces around town might give you a chuckle, it costs money to remove them with care to not damage the art,” the city posted to its Instagram account last week.
The removal has run upward of $1,500 because of the adhesive on the eyes, reported Oregon Live.
“Corten steel can lose rust patches from adhesives, needing chemical treatment to rust evenly,” Bend spokesperson René Mitchell told the outlet.
“Stainless steel requires strong solvents to remove adhesive residue,” she added.
Now, the Bend government is resorting to bargaining with the public.
“While we don’t condone the wreaths, leis and Santa hats, let’s stay away from adhesives, graffiti and all things that can damage the art,” the Instagram post added.
However, the people have spoken.
“It seems like almost everyone wants the googly eyes,” one person commented. “Isn’t this public art? Give the people what they want.”
Meanwhile, another is optimistic that the city’s post will open more eyes about the unexpected add-ons.
“Hopefully this post inspires more googly eyes!!!!!!”
