Artist responsible for unique Riverwalk sculpture explains art

MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- For about 48 hours, a rogue statue surfaced near the Milwaukee River -- and created a bit of buzz in downtown Milwaukee. Now, FOX6 News has tracked down the artist responsible to explain the statue and its placement.

The Milwaukee painter and sculptor asks to be referred to as "The Skraus." He says he doesn't know what he would be doing if it weren't for art.

The man is part artist, part performance artist, putting on a one-man show for his dog, named The Sandwich.

The Skraus said he was not expecting media attention after he placed a sculpture on Milwaukee's River Walk last week to become a temporary neighbor to the Bronze Fonz.

Without an obvious title, some called it The Blue Who. 

The Skraus says the sculpture is actually a self-portrait. 

"Franken Lincoln Stein. I thought that was pretty clever," the man said.

The Skraus said he hoped someone would smash the sculpture, but no one did. Later, The Skraus went back to visit the art he abandoned and police noticed, telling him: "If it was yours, I'd advise you to take it out of here before my shift ends, otherwise it's a $500 fine," The Skraus said.

"If it got wrecked or beaten up that's fine, but it was the fine that scared me," The Skraus said.

On Thursday, the man secured the sculpture and it now rests in the corner of his home. 

The Skraus says he has no intentions of dropping off his art again. He says he has gotten one offer to buy the sculpture, but so far, no sale.