A dumb art thief ripped off a colorful Sarape art from a bus shelter, then gets into a County bus to flee the crime scene, which video cameras inside the bus recorded the suspect with the goods.
By H. Nelson Goodson
Hispanic News Network U.S.A.
September 22, 2018
Milwaukee, WI - On Friday, the Milwaukee County Transit System (MCTS) Facebook account reported that a bus shelter one of kind art piece was stolen by a brazen art thief and apparently the thief used a County bus as a get away. All Milwaukee County buses have video surveillance cameras and in this particular Route 23 bus as well. The suspected thief managed to get off at the S. Cesar E. Chavez Dr. bus stop on W. National Ave.
Milwaukee police are investigating the theft and the MCTS released video and still photos of the dumb art thief with the goods in his hands. The MCTS hopes the male thief can be recognized.
The MCTS released the following press release. Just weeks after a one-of-a-kind artwork was put up on a bus shelter in the Walker's Point neighborhood, a man tore down and stole the art. While police investigate the selfish crime, the Milwaukee art community is stepping up.
"I've heard from many artists who are frustrated by what happened and are now offering to do anything they can to help," said Gloria Ruiz-Santos, the artist who created the stolen work.
Gloria's piece, 'Colorful Serape,' is part of the popular Bus Shelter Art Project that MCTS kicked off this summer. The innovative program gives local artists access to the most exclusive canvases in town: MCTS bus shelters. Gloria's piece was installed on a bus shelter at 6th and National on July 30th.
"Why would someone tear down something so beautiful? That is what we want to find out," said MCTS' Brendan Conway, who helped start the art program. "Whoever this man is, it's unlikely he's going to get away with it. Not only did the video cameras on our buses catch the criminal in the act, he also escaped the scene on a bus, meaning we have high definition images of the man."
All the video and pictures have been shared with Milwaukee Police who are investigating the crime. Anyone who recognizes the man seen in the images can contact police at 414-933-4444.
All the video and pictures have been shared with Milwaukee Police who are investigating the crime. Anyone who recognizes the man seen in the images can contact police at 414-933-4444.
Milwaukee County Executive Chris Abele heard about the theft and made a personal donation of $10,000. That money will be used to re-install the stolen art and place more art across Milwaukee County bus shelters.
"We love Milwaukee, we love art, we love Milwaukee art," Abele said about the Bus Shelter Art Project.
"Thanks to Chris Abele's generosity we can immediately right this wrong and also expand the program," said Libby Olbrantz, founder of The Bus Art Project MKE. "We appreciate all the people who are stepping up to donate to this great program that brings art into the community."
Gloria is also doing her part. She plans to sell special prints of her 'Colorful Serape' piece at this weekend's Walker's Point 5th Street Fest with proceeds going to the Bus Shelter Art Project.
"We love Milwaukee, we love art, we love Milwaukee art," Abele said about the Bus Shelter Art Project.
"Thanks to Chris Abele's generosity we can immediately right this wrong and also expand the program," said Libby Olbrantz, founder of The Bus Art Project MKE. "We appreciate all the people who are stepping up to donate to this great program that brings art into the community."
Gloria is also doing her part. She plans to sell special prints of her 'Colorful Serape' piece at this weekend's Walker's Point 5th Street Fest with proceeds going to the Bus Shelter Art Project.
About the Bus Shelter Art Project
The Bus Shelter Art Project is a collaboration between MCTS and The Bus Art Project MKE to spread art across Milwaukee County. The Bus Art Project MKE works with the artists and raises money to pay for the production and installation of the art, then MCTS provides the space. In 2018, seven original pieces of art were produced and installed in bus shelters throughout the community, with more planned in future years.
The Bus Shelter Art Project is a collaboration between MCTS and The Bus Art Project MKE to spread art across Milwaukee County. The Bus Art Project MKE works with the artists and raises money to pay for the production and installation of the art, then MCTS provides the space. In 2018, seven original pieces of art were produced and installed in bus shelters throughout the community, with more planned in future years.
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