The OPP is asking for help identifying three individuals suspected of stealing a sculpture made by a 90-year-old artist, whose work was stolen while on display at a Fenelon Falls, Ont., art exhibit in late August.
The artist Rosalinde Baumgartner’s sculpture of a man’s bust was taken from the annual Downtown Sculpture Exhibit on the night of August 24. Soon after, the theft was reported to the OPP, who then posted clear security footage of the three male suspects walking on a sidewalk at night to their socials.
The art heist has been condemned by locals, including CTVNews journalist Avery Haines, who also calls the town of roughly 2,500 home. Haines first heard about the theft when the organizers of the art exhibition, the Fenelon Arts Committee, reached out to her. “They sent me a DM saying, look, we know you’re from Fenelon Falls, and we’re desperately trying to get the word out that this has been stolen so that it can be returned to the woman who created it,” she says.
Last week, Haines posted a video to Instagram calling out the suspects. “You have messed with some really bad karma by stealing art to begin with,” she says in the video. “But then to steal something that was created by 90-year-old hands.” Haines goes on to offer a deal: return the sculpture, she will buy the $2,000 bust from Baumgartner and make sure it has a good home. In return, the suspects will get back some “karma credit points,” she says.
Commenters on her video share Haines’ sentiment. “I hope the thief/thieves do the right thing and return it. What an interesting and stunning sculpture!,” said one commenter. “Wonderful gesture. I really hope it gets returned. It meant so much to her,” said another. According to Haines, Baumgartner had described the sculpture as her favourite piece.
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While she is angered by the theft, Haines believes the crime was likely intended as a prank. “I don’t think that somebody purposely went out to destroy somebody’s piece of art or derail a sculpture walk in Fenelon Falls,” she says. “My guess is that it was a dumb prank, but it just made me sad more than anything for the artist—that that whole experience of having her art showcased has been turned into a crime.”
Despite the town’s small population, the OPP has not been able to identify the suspects at time of publication. But Haines says she just wants to see the sculpture returned. “For me, it’s less about who did it,” she says. “I just want that piece of art back in its rightful place with the woman who created it.
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