Appleton's 'big head' sculpture fitted with face mask during coronavirus pandemic

A woman looks at a giant protective mask that someone placed on "The Collective," a sculpture by Paul Bobrowitz, along East College Avenue Monday, April 6, 2020, in Appleton, Wis. (Photo: Dan Powers/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin)

APPLETON – Life imitates art, or is it the other way around?  

Appleton residents woke Monday to find someone put a giant face mask over "The Collective” – also known as the “big head” sculpture on College Avenue.

"The Collective" is made from salvaged propane tanks that have been turned into faces and assembled to make a large head. Artist Paul Bobrowitz's creation was installed in November 2019 as part of Sculpture Valley's third season of ACREofART.

Masks also were placed on the faces of the children that are part of the sculpture "Ring Dance" in City Park.

Parker Coumbe, 6, of Appleton investigates the "Ring Dance" sculpture that is covered with protective masks at City Park Monday, April 6, 2020, in Appleton, Wis. Parker was at the park with his mother, Kayla Coumbe. (Photo: Dan Powers/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin)