Authorities investigate damage to 'The Bean'

Authorities are investigating after police discovered damage Monday on the steel sculpture known as "The Bean" in Millennium Park.

Two names were scratched into the surface of the polished steel sculpture in Millennium Park. Police discovered the damage Monday.

There was no description of the person who defaced the piece, which is located near Michigan Avenue and Randolph Street. Police are hoping security cameras might have captured the vandals at work.

Cloud Gate, or "The Bean" as it has become affectionately known, is British artist Anish Kapoor's first public outdoor work installed in the United States, according to Millennium Park's Web site.

The 110-ton elliptical sculpture is forged of a seamless series of highly polished stainless steel plates, which reflect the city's famous skyline and the clouds above, the site said.

A 12-foot-high arch provides a "gate" to the concave chamber beneath the sculpture, inviting visitors to touch its mirror-like surface and see their image reflected back from a variety of perspectives, according to the site.

There is no word yet on how much it will cost to repair the damage.