BITCH-ASS THIEVES: A SERIOUS PIECE

Excuse me while I have a serious journalistic moment. On Thursday, January 9th, devastation rocked the world of some very talented local artists. Studio 16, a bright new face in the crowd of galleries in our city, was robbed somewhere between midnight and seven in the morning. The take was huge; the shock is still palpable. Doug Fordyce, Amandda Tirey, Rob Colgan, Brandon Kukan, Nancy Rick, Lisa McLymont, Susan O'Dell, and Deborah Wicks, I apologize to you for what our society has become. 21 pieces of art were stolen in all; two black-and-white photos, 12 paintings, four drawings, and four copper sculptures. The bastards also got four cases of wine, a case of beer, and all of the power tools that the artists kept there. Although I am not personally acquainted with all of the artists mentioned, I can say one is one of my best friends. While Amandda Tirey was working furiously to complete the pieces for her thesis show to get her MFA, I would walk over to her studio space on my breaks. I was always armed with coffee and cigarettes. We got our caffeine fix, smoked cigarettes, and talked art. I was her editor for her thesis paper. I poured over slides at home, and offered praise, advice, and support. As much as those paintings and drawings were her children, they were my godchildren. I even got to help name them. This isn't so much a robbery as it is a kidnapping. And it sucks to see that the products of months of soul and energy and love and hard work have been ripped away from those who gave birth to them. There are no words that we can offer that will make this better. We can, however, try to help these artists financially. Donations are currently being accepted at The Import House (4 E. 13th Ave.), to help them as much as possible.