Latest news with #HarwoodMuseumofArt
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Yahoo
FBI recovers paintings stolen more than 40 years ago from N.M. museum
June 6 (UPI) -- A pair of stolen paintings have been returned to a museum in New Mexico after they were missing for more than 40 years, the FBI confirmed on Friday. The FBI credited its free Stolen Art App launched in 2023 for helping to identify and recover the paintings by artists Victor Higgins and Joseph Henry Sharp. The two works of art were stolen in March 1985 from the University of New Mexico's Harwood Museum of Art, located in Taos. The town of approximately 6,400 people is located in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains and known for its historic buildings. The FBI did not say if anyone has been charged in relation to the stolen paintings, only that "cooperation of multiple individuals and other entities contacted during the investigation was critical to the recovery of these paintings," and that "all investigative leads have been exhausted at this time." The museum is holding a special unveiling Friday night for Higgins' oil painting titled "Aspens," and Sharp's "Oklahoma Cheyenne." Both men were members of the Taos Society of Artists. "We are thrilled to announce a historic moment for Harwood Museum of Art. After 40 years, two paintings stolen during the infamous 1985 Harwood Heist -- works by Victor Higgins and Joseph Henry Sharp -- have been officially returned to the museum," the museum wrote on Facebook. "The FBI has delivered the recovered artworks to our Collections and Curatorial Departments, marking a major moment of closure and celebration for our community and the legacy of Taos art." "We are grateful for the cooperation of all parties involved," Acting Assistant Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office Margaret Girard said in the agency's statement. "The recovery of these stolen paintings is a powerful reminder that the FBI continues to commit investigative resources to recover cultural property and return these stolen items to their rightful owners." Friday's event also includes a screening of a documentary about the thefts. "The evening will feature a special panel of individuals who have been part of this story since the 1980s and a screening of The Thief Collector at 5:30 pm, the riveting documentary that dives into the couple responsible for the 1985 Harwood heist," reads the museum's Facebook post. In addition to the FBI, museum officials credit amateur historical crime researcher Lou Schachter with uncovering the location of the paintings, in the estate of New Mexico school teachers Jerry and Rita Alter. "Without his sleuthing, this artwork would never be back where it belongs," Harwood Marketing and Development Associate Sylvia Tawse told the Taos News in an interview.
UPI
4 days ago
- UPI
FBI recovers paintings stolen more than 40 years ago from N.M. museum
1 of 2 | A pair of stolen paintings, including Victor Higgins' 1932 oil painting Aspens, have been returned to a museum in New Mexico after they were missing for more than 40 years, the FBI confirmed on Friday. Photo courtesy of the FBI June 6 (UPI) -- A pair of stolen paintings have been returned to a museum in New Mexico after they were missing for more than 40 years, the FBI confirmed on Friday. The FBI credited its free Stolen Art App launched in 2023 for helping to identify and recover the paintings by artists Victor Higgins and Joseph Henry Sharp. The two works of art were stolen in March 1985 from the University of New Mexico's Harwood Museum of Art, located in Taos. The town of approximately 6,400 people is located in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains and known for its historic buildings. The FBI did not say if anyone has been charged in relation to the stolen paintings, only that "cooperation of multiple individuals and other entities contacted during the investigation was critical to the recovery of these paintings," and that "all investigative leads have been exhausted at this time." The museum is holding a special unveiling Friday night for Higgins' oil painting titled "Aspens," and Sharp's "Oklahoma Cheyenne." Both men were members of the Taos Society of Artists. "We are thrilled to announce a historic moment for Harwood Museum of Art. After 40 years, two paintings stolen during the infamous 1985 Harwood Heist -- works by Victor Higgins and Joseph Henry Sharp -- have been officially returned to the museum," the museum wrote on Facebook. "The FBI has delivered the recovered artworks to our Collections and Curatorial Departments, marking a major moment of closure and celebration for our community and the legacy of Taos art." "We are grateful for the cooperation of all parties involved," Acting Assistant Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office Margaret Girard said in the agency's statement. "The recovery of these stolen paintings is a powerful reminder that the FBI continues to commit investigative resources to recover cultural property and return these stolen items to their rightful owners." Friday's event also includes a screening of a documentary about the thefts. "The evening will feature a special panel of individuals who have been part of this story since the 1980s and a screening of The Thief Collector at 5:30 pm, the riveting documentary that dives into the couple responsible for the 1985 Harwood heist," reads the museum's Facebook post. In addition to the FBI, museum officials credit amateur historical crime researcher Lou Schachter with uncovering the location of the paintings, in the estate of New Mexico school teachers Jerry and Rita Alter. "Without his sleuthing, this artwork would never be back where it belongs," Harwood Marketing and Development Associate Sylvia Tawse told the Taos News in an interview.
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Yahoo
School's Zozobra burning gone wrong, Teen charged with gun, Hotter temperatures, EV fires, La Ristra balloon
Final group of students graduate from Taft Middle School ahead of closure Pilots take to the sky ahead of Roswell air races What's happening around New Mexico May 23-29? Salsa on Sunday and more Stolen paintings returned to Harwood Museum of Art in Taos 40 years after heist 'Tracking the Chupacabra' author speaks on evidence of the legend Man who helped shoot the homes of NM elected officials gets shorter sentence Harvard sues the Trump administration over ban on enrolling foreign students [1] Lawsuit filed over Santa Fe charter school's Zozobra burning – A lawsuit claims The Academy For Technology and The Classics Charter School in Santa Fe was negligent when they had their own Zozobra burning and left some students injured. The suit claims a 9th-grade student was given accelerants to light a 15-foot marionette, while other students, including the plaintiff's child, watched nearby. The suit said the Zozobra narrator said, 'Can someone please make me burn again?' That's when the suit said that same student poured more accelerant, causing a large flash of fire. A few students were reported to have minor injuries, but the lawsuit claims the plaintiff's child had second-degree burns that will leave permanent scars and has been diagnosed with PTSD. [2] ABQ student charged with bringing gun to middle school will stay in custody – Another gun was confiscated from a student at an Albuquerque school Tuesday. The gun was found at Jimmy Carter Middle School. The Bernalillo County District Attorney's Office said staff found the weapon in the student's backpack after getting a tip that the student had a gun. Investigators say there was a bullet in the chamber. The student was booked into a juvenile facility and was charged with unlawful carrying of a weapon on school property. On Thursday, a hearing officer ruled that the 13-year-old student will remain at a juvenile facility as his case goes through the judicial process. [3] Hotter weather today then muggier by Memorial Day – Friday is going to be even hotter, with more places climbing into the 90s. A few more places should hit 100° in southern New Mexico. Temperatures cool off a few degrees Sunday afternoon. A couple isolated showers and storms are likely in northeast parts of the state. Moisture will increase across the eastern half of New Mexico by Memorial Day afternoon. This will bring a chance for isolated storms to the eastern half of the state. Temperatures will again be a couple degrees cooler on Memorial Day, but right around average for this time of year. [4] How will Albuquerque firefighters battle EV fires? – With more electric vehicles on the roads, Albuquerque Fire Rescue is taking steps to make sure they're ready to respond if they catch fire. So far, the department says they have yet to see and EV fire in Albuquerque, but AFR says it's only a matter of time before they have to deal with one. AFR says a fire blanket is an effective method to putting out an EV fire without using thousands of gallons of water. This different approach is necessary because of the lithium-ion batteries found in EVs. [5] Chile ristra-shaped hot air balloon returns to New Mexico – The 'La Ristra' balloon has not flown for several years, but this year, it's making a return. For years Balloon Fiesta visitors would see the 'La Ristra' hot air balloon flying over the city. However, after spending 25 years flying, the former owner had to focus on other aspects of his life, and the special shape sat around for years. Former owner Mike Shrum says he sold the balloon for $20,000 to Rainbow Ryders and Visit Albuquerque will lease it from them. Visit Albuquerque said it will feature La Ristra at signature events such as the ExxonMobil Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta, Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Yahoo
Stolen paintings returned to Harwood Museum of Art in Taos 40 years after heist
TAOS, N.M. (KRQE) – It was a case of disappearing artwork that went cold and was nearly forgotten. Now, decades later, two missing paintings are back in their rightful home inside a northern New Mexico museum. The missing paintings vanished from a Taos art museum 40 years ago. It turns out those pieces were in the same New Mexico home where another valuable stolen painting was found years ago. Story continues below Job News: NM proposes rule aimed at preventing heat illness for workers Poll Results: Where is the best place to go fishing in New Mexico? Don't Miss: One man's journey out of the juvenile justice system to mentorship 'It's unbelievable, really, that they finally made their way back after being lost for 40 years,' said Harwood Museum of Art Executive Director Juniper Leherissey. Decades later, the mystery is over. Two paintings, stolen off the walls of The Harwood Museum of Art in Taos, are now back home. The stolen paintings include Victor Higgins' 'Aspens' and 'Oklahoma Cheyenne' by Joseph Henry Sharp. The paintings spent decades on the wall of a home near Silver City. The museum said the now-deceased couple who owned the home are those behind the 1985 'Harwood Heist.' 'These individuals came into the museum, created a distraction, one woman in a wheelchair, the man in a trench coat went upstairs, and these works are not huge, so basically ripped them off the wall,' added Leherissey. That couple, Rita and Jerry Alter, made national headlines in 2017 after an estate sale company discovered the multi-million dollar piece, Willem De Kooning's 'Woman-Ocher' which was taken from the University of Arizona Museum of Art. 'We really don't know how many works they stole, but they did take advantage of small institutions,' said Leherissey. With the help of a historical true crime writer, the two Harwood Museum of Art paintings are back home. In 2023, Lou Schachter noticed the 'Harwood Heist' was similar to the De Kooning theft. 'I followed the story of the Alters' theft of the De Kooning painting in Tucson, and I got inspired to see if the Alters had stolen any other paintings. It seemed weird that they would have stolen just one,' said Schachter. After Schachter's discovery, the museum contacted the FBI. Investigators found the paintings were sold by the Scottsdale Auction House under different titles in 2018. Schachter said, 'I think it's a gift to anyone who goes to an art museum, but particularly those in Taos, New Mexico, who have a great art museum and incredible works, and these are two that belong, home. Where they were.' While the museum is now in custody of the paintings, they'll be officially unveiled to the public in a museum event on June 6 at 4 p.m. The couple who were in possession of the paintings were never charged with a crime, as they died before anyone made the discovery. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
