Fits and Starts

Fits and Starts is a sculpture by the Brooklyn, New York City artist Marc Swanson, the 2005 vandalism of which at DePauw University created controversy.

Fits and Starts was a life-size sculpture of a deer in mid-leap that was entirely encrusted in rhinestone crystals. It was made of steel and polyurethane foam. The sculpture was installed near DePauw's East College building on 4 November 2005. The artwork combined the influence of his politically conservative father, an Eagle Scout and US Marine, and Swanson's identity as a gay male. The Butler Family Foundation, which "is committed to supporting the acquisition of contemporary sculpture created by emerging artists of promise and established artists of note," paid US$60 000 to donate the sculpture to DePauw.