I've searched the archives for this one, and had no luck, so I'm asking for
help from anyone who has any suggestions or leads on how to keep the public
from climbing on public art.

There are two 3/4 life size bronze horse sculptures located in a park that
members of the public love to put their kids on for photographs.  As you
would expect, the horses have sustained a great deal of damage because of
this practice, and now the sculptures require extensive repair.  They will
be removed and repaired, but they have no other permanent home, which means
they will be going back to the park, probably to sustain further damage.

What I'm asking is if anyone knows of any method to keep people from
climbing on these statues.  The following methods have been tried with NO
success:

- roping / fencing off the statues
- "no climbing" signs
- planting flowers and shrubs around the statues
- planting nasty prickly plants around the statues

While raising these statues onto a concrete or stone base might deter some
climbers (they are currently at ground level), I would like to find a more
creative solution.  A moat is absolutely out of the question (although it
would probably work!)

I remember a few years back when I was visiting England, I saw several
wrought iron fences that had been painted with what was called "anti-climb"
paint.  This substance was supposed to deter climbers by either remaining
"wet" or greasy to prevent climbing.  Has anyone heard of this stuff?  Does
anyone have any other suggestions?  Even if we deterred 90% of the
climbers, the horses might survive to see the turn of the millenium.

Please reply on or off list.

Alex Avdichuk
City of Toronto
Arts, Culture and Heritage Services
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