[MSN] Carlsbad museum theft. Nearly $20, 000 in art discovered missing

[Museum Security Network Mailinglist]

Nearly $20,000 in art discovered missing
By Karen Polly
Current-Argus Staff Writer
February 11, 2006

CARLSBAD -- Two color woodcut prints by artist Gustave Bauman were taken
from a storage area of the Carlsbad Museum and Art Center within the past 2½
years, said Director Virginia Dodier.

Dodier said she was doing an inventory of the fine arts collection last week
in preparation for the museum's 75th anniversary, which will be celebrated
Feb. 16.

She said when she discovered that the prints were not in the correct place
in storage, she called in reinforcements to thoroughly search the museum.

The prints disappeared between Aug. 6, 2003, and Jan. 30.

"I reported last Friday. First, we searched everywhere. That was me, members
of the staff and members of the board, and then we reported it. It's
possible that they will turn up somewhere on the premises," Dodier said.
"But I think it is pretty clear that they are missing from the museum
premises."

The two prints were created by Bauman, a New Mexico artist who made 100
copies of each print -- but made each of them unique. They are titled "Road
of a Morning" and "Talpa Chapel," and the combined estimated value is
$19,550.

"That's an estimate of the current market value. But that varies, of course,
with the condition of each print. And anyone who took them for the purpose
of turning them into cash should know there are ways for dealers to check
with us to see if they are our missing prints," Dodier said. "Even though
there are 99 other prints of each one, they are uniquely identifiable."

She said Bauman was the leading print maker of the early part of the 20th
century in New Mexico, and his prints are iconic in the state.

The two prints were the only works that the Carlsbad museum had by the
artist, she said, adding whoever took the art had a specific desire for
Bauman's prints.

"He or she had an appreciation for those prints," she said.

The director said that the theft must have been committed by someone who had
access to the museum's storage areas, which sometimes includes the public.

"We have many, many visitors to the museum, and we have to make use of our
storage area for demonstrations and classes. However, that problem will be
eliminated in the coming year because we have funds to expand our upstairs
storage," Dodier said, adding that the museum has legislative funding to
expand the storage, which would be off-limits to the public.

"I'm confident that we'll get them back, I really am. But it's the betrayal
of trust, and that's worrying," she said. "I really hope this person
realizes the mistake they made and returns them so they can be enjoyed by
everyone for posterity -- because they belong to the city of Carlsbad. They
don't belong to one individual."

Anyone with information on the missing art should contact Crime Stoppers at
887-1888. All calls will be treated confidentially and may result in a
reward of up to $1,000.

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