Who stole this 200-pound Mighty Mouse sculpture from Wichita artist’s yard?

Christopher Gulick has a lot of questions about a bizarre theft from his backyard.

Overnight Wednesday, someone pilfered a 200-pound, brightly colored log sculpture of cartoon character Mighty Mouse from Wichita artist Christopher Gulick’s Indian Hills backyard.

“I’m an expert in doing stupid (stuff), and this is just some poor, drunken, stoned moron doing something stupid,” Gulick said. “I mean, really? Who in their right mind gets a buddy to help them pick up a 200-pound log that’s painted yellow and shaped like a mouse?”

The sculpture was given to Gulick by fellow sculptor Gino Salerno, known in Wichita for his sculptures carved out of dead or dying tree stumps.

It’s approximately 5 feet tall, and painted bright yellow, blue, red, and black.

Gulick estimates he’s displayed the sculpture on his back porch for about 25 years — and a few years ago, its paint job was freshened up by artist Bob Burdette.

It’s one of many sculptures that Gulick, known locally for his kinetic mobile sculptures, has in his backyard, near 17th and St. Paul streets.

“Several people have asked ‘Are you ever concerned somebody’s going to steal something?’ and I’ve always said if somebody’s life sucks so bad that they have to steal sculptures out of a backyard, they can just knock themselves out,” Gulick said.

“I’d probably be really mad if it weren’t so stupid and funny at the same time.”

The one security camera Gulick had pointed in that direction “wasn’t connected to anything,” he said.

As of Wednesday afternoon, Gulick had only one guess as to the culprit’s whereabouts:

“They probably woke up two hours ago with a hangover, going, ‘What did we do last night? And why has the truck got yellow paint on it?’”

If anyone has information as to the whereabouts of Mighty Mouse, they are encouraged to call Wichita police and reference case number 18C519296.

This story was originally published July 25, 2018 at 3:54 PM.