[CPProt.net] Artist Searches for Stolen Paintings: Art Taken from Library

[Museum Security and Cultural Property Protection (Ton Cremers)]

Artist Searches for Stolen Paintings: Art Taken from Library
Published on 1/5/2006


Chester - Someone might have received the gift of an original watercolor
painting or two over the holidays that (one would hope) they would certainly
not accept if they knew those pieces had been stolen. 

Chester artist Monique Hanson is distraught over the loss of her two framed
paintings, both of which she discovered missing from a private display at
the Guilford Free Library. Hanson believes the pieces were taken sometime
after Nov. 22, which was the last time she saw the art on display. She
discovered the loss when she came to retrieve her work on Nov. 28.

In an effort to recover the paintings, one of which was planned as a gift
for her daughter, Hanson has placed posters depicting the works around
Guilford. As of press time, no one had responded to Hanson's plea at the top
of her poster, "Please, bring them back!" 

Hanson had returned to the library's first floor meeting room on Nov. 28 to
retrieve her paintings, along with other students who were part of a show
offered by an Old Saybrook class headed by artist Stan Carver. When she
found blank spaces on the wall where her pictures had been, Hanson said her
teacher told her he thought she had already removed the pieces. 

Hanson said she held out hope that one of her classmates had removed the
paintings and was planning to return them at class that Friday. 

"I was still dreaming and hoping when I went to painting class [on] Friday
that someone had taken them and they would be brought to me. When saw there
was nothing, I went to the police," she said. 

Hanson had also contacted the library, which is not responsible for items
left in private shows in the meeting room. Hanson said a third painting,
done by another artist in Carver's class, was also stolen from the exhibit. 

"My two paintings were on one wall on the right side of the room. His was on
the other side of the room," said Hanson. 

Even after she contacted police and the library, Hanson felt she still had
to do something more. Luckily, Hanson's husband had taken photos of her two
works shortly after each was set in fruitwood frames (at a cost of more than
$200). 

Hanson took the photos and put together her poster, which states "no
questions asked." She even offered the other artist a chance to include a
picture of his stolen painting, but "...he just shrugged his shoulders," she
said.

It's a bit more difficult for the landscape artist to let go of her
paintings, which represented her first attempts at working in watercolors.
Hanson added she doesn't offer her pieces for sale.

"I don't sell my paintings--I do them for me and for family and friends,"
she said.

With her posters in hand, Hanson returned to Guilford last week. The first
Guilford organization that agreed to display her poster was the Guilford
Free Library.

"They were very nice. When I called [to report the stolen paintings], I was
pretty upset. They explained they had no insurance for such things, a
private show in a public place," said Hanson.

As library director Sandra Ruoff explained, "We have always made it clear
that we have never had any coverage for exhibits. It's done at their own
risk."

Of course, Ruoff added, the staff was saddened and dismayed to learn of the
missing art. 

"We sent her a written letter of apology and hung up her poster in a public
place," she said.

Ruoff added the library has since followed up with police to review
security. The door through which Hanson believes her art was carried out, a
separate meeting room entrance off the parking lot, needs to be open and
accessible during library hours due to fire codes. 

Ruoff said the missing art represents the first time any such pieces have
been stolen from building.

"I've worked at the library for 29 years and we have never lost anything
from an exhibit," said Ruoff.

For Hanson, the Guilford show was her first time she had agreed to place her
work on exhibit.

"It was my first show and it will probably be the last," she said.

In the meantime, Hanson is hoping an article and pictures in the newspaper
will spread the word to help locate her stolen paintings. 

"I still have a very vague hope. It is my only hope at this point, that
someone will report [seeing the paintings]. There are a lot of nice souls
out there," she said.

Hanson's missing paintings include one 11 _ " x 24" framed piece containing
four smaller matted paintings of leaves in fall colors; and one 19" x 12 _
inch framed painting of a forest, done in purples and yellows, with scenery
of trees and flowers. If found, please return them to the Guilford Free
Library or call 860-526-2324

http://www.shorepublishing.com/