UPDATE:
Mystery solved. Kind of. CHS just got off the phone with Sound Mental Health’s Gayle Johnson who shared an odd but happy ending for the mid-September painting rip-off.
Johnson said the work of art — a colorful abstract original by Pacific Northwest artist William Cumming — was found outside the clinic’s E. Olive offices Monday morning, leaned next to the garbage. “Somebody couldn’t figure out how to sell it or changed their mind,” Johnson said. “Who else is going to be willing to take it?”
“It’s hanging behind our front desk again,” Johnson said.
This isn’t the first time a Cumming work has been lost on Capitol Hill only to be found again. In 2008, a lost painting of his at Meany School was discovered hidden away in storage:
Long lost William Cumming masterpiece found at Meany Middle School
Artist will retouch painting, unveil artwork at May 15 Jaguar Arts Festival
Legendary Northwest artist William Cumming, 91, will return to Meany Middle School this month for the unveiling of his 4- by 8-foot oil masterpiece, “Song of the Open Road,” which was recently discovered in a school storage room. The painting, commissioned by Meany PTA in May 1963, will be unveiled at Meany’s Jaguar Arts Festival on May 15. Cumming will retouch the painting before the unveiling.
You can read more about Cumming in this HistoryLink article that refers to him as the ‘Willie Nelson of painting’ and check out this Regina Hackett article for a good example of his work.
Johnson said Sound Mental Health will be taking extra precautions to make sure the painting doesn’t tempt another would-be art thief including mounting the painting to the wall. CHS asked to photograph the painting but Sound Mental Health denied the request.
Original Report:
CHS has learned of a $50,000 art heist on Capitol Hill in September that remains unsolved weeks later.
The target: a painting hanging behind the front desk at E. Olive St. counseling services provider, Sound Mental Health.
According to a Seattle Police Department incident report, sometime during the night of Thursday, September 17th, somebody entered the front desk area, lifted the art walk from the wall and walked off with the $50,000 painting. The only evidence found at the scene: a black scrunchie found on the ground below where the painting was hanging.
There is not much information on the work of art that was taken other than the estimated value and its location when stolen. The name of the artist is redacted in the report. We are trying to learn more about the painting and the theft from Sound Mental Health.
According to the report, the administrative assistant was questioned and said he left the building at 5:15 PM Thursday night and locked the doors behind him. There were ‘several’ Sound Mental employees still in the building when he left, according to the report, and each had keys to the locked front desk area. A cleaning crew also worked in the building the night of the theft. Officers found no signs of forced entry.
CHS has contacted SPD to find out if there have been any breaks in the case — we’re waiting to hear back.
…I need to take up painting. Or art theft!
I’m certain one of the petite bourgeois pro-parks lunatics is likely responsible for the theft, some misguided attempt to raise monies for more parks while the good, normal people of The Hill are left without anyplace to park our vehicles.
Isn’t it just as likely that the anti-parks people stole it, hoping to use the money to put a “destroy the parks” measure on the ballot…?
OMG… just went through and read some Zan-O comments. Is this CHS’ first full-time crank poster? So exciting!
yeah, we’re big time now
It’s inconceivable I’m CHS’ first full-time crank poster. I mean look at all the pro-parks looney-tunes who hang out here. Obviously I’m maybe like the fifth or sixth full-time crank poster.