Thieves steal public artworks in Youngstown

The works can be returned, no questions asked.

By Guy D’Astolfo

YOUNGSTOWN — Three pieces of art that were part of a public beautification project have been stolen, and the group responsible for the project wants them back.

The three 6-foot by 8-foot artworks on canvas were among 37 fastened to a fence on Wick Avenue on the North Side, in an empty lot across from the Golden Dawn restaurant. Art Youngstown, a group that aims to make art accessible to the public, sponsored the project, rounding up dozens of artists who created and then donated paintings. The project, which was dubbed “Wrap the Arts,” had only been up for one week.

Robert Dubec is the president of Art Youngstown. He said that a neighbor witnessed several young men take down the artworks at about 3 a.m. Saturday. The men might have been college students, and Dubec speculated that the theft could have been a Halloween prank. He said he reported the incident to both city and university police.

The paintings were fastened to a fence that had been erected on the lot. Although they are large, they can be folded or rolled up for easy carrying, said Dubec.

“The community loves them,” he said. “Cars slow down when they drive past to see them.”

Dubec said if the people responsible for the theft return the art, there will be no questions asked. The paintings can be returned by dropping them off at the Lemon Grove Cafe, 122 W. Federal St., downtown, which is open until 4 a.m.; by contacting Dubec at (330) 398-4565; or by going to artyoungstown.org and sending an e-mail to indicate where the paintings can be picked up.

The paintings that were stolen were: A painting of Youngstown by Tony Nicholas; a rendering of “Yo,” the city’s nickname, by Anita Weinstock; and a black cat, by Antonio Pilloli.

Dubec said his organization has plans to do another art fence in the city, but the theft has left him leery about it.

“Do you stop because you are afraid the art will get stolen?” he asked rhetorically. “Will it become harder to find artists who will donate to such projects?”

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