NEWS
Tuesday 19 July 2011
People’s Post False Bay Page 5
Bronze monkeys missing Bronze sculpture stolen out of local gallery DALEEN FOUCHÉ
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BRONZE sculpture of two vervet monkeys by local artist Richard Gunston, worth R80 000, was stolen from the Longbeach Art Gallery in Longbeach Mall on Tuesday 12 July during business hours. Gunston, who has been making bronze sculptures as a hobby for over 10 years, is urging residents to be on the lookout for anyone attempting to sell his sculpture as scrap metal. The sculpture bears the artist’s name on the bronze and on a silver plate set in the leather base, together with a series number and title of the work “Intrigued”. Gunston says this has never happened to him before, but says that a gallery in Constantia refused to exhibit his work because they are wary of thieves targeting bronze sculptures. Gunston says the sculpture is one of his own personal favourites. But he adds that making art is never “just work”. He explains that casting any item in bronze is a very expensive. “Only once I sell a piece can I afford to cast the next one.” But with this sculpture being stolen, Gunston is unable to afford to cast his next sculpture. Tom Eatwell, owner of the Longbeach Gallery, says he is very concerned about the theft. Eatwell says the art in the gallery is not insured, because art insurance is “very expensive”. “We have always informed artists of this fact, but it never seemed to be a problem.” But Eatwell says that since he informed the artists of what happened, some had removed their art from
TOUCH OF GOLD: A golden day dawns over the Muizenberg promenade. Photo: Gerhard Slabbert
NSRI to the rescue STOLEN: This bronze sculpture, seen here in its clay form, was stolen from an art gallery in Longbeach Mall. Photo: Supplied the gallery. Eatwell says that the matter has been reported to Longbeach Mall management and the Fish Hoek police. Gunston expressed his “utter disgust” with the thief who stole his artwork in a letter to People’s Post. “To the thief who stole it, I hope and pray that divine justice will prevail, and that what you sow you will reap to a far greater degree than you ever imagined.” Warrant Officer Peter Middleton, spokesperson for the Fish Hoek police, says police are currently investigating the matter. Stefan Roodt, Longbeach Mall manager, says management were alerted to the theft on Wednesday 13 July. “We immediately did a full audit of the CCTV footage for
the previous day,” he says. “Unfortunately we were unable to identify a suspect and/or any strange behaviour from customers to the gallery.” Roodt says that Longbeach Mall is committed to eradicating crime in the centre and in the community. “We work hand-in-hand with the police, our security provider and tenants to make Longbeach Mall ‘a fine place to drop anchor’. We strive for service excellence and will continue to do our utmost in making ‘our’ Mall a safe, pleasant and exciting destination for all our visitors,” he says. If anyone has information on the whereabouts of the sculpture, call Richard on 082 420 9660 or the Fish Hoek police on (021) 784-2700.
THE National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) was called out on Tuesday 12 July at 19:19, following a request for assistance from the ski-boat Cascade. The skipper reported that the boat’s motor was tangled in crayfish nets, four nautical miles south of Cape Point. Six crew members were on board in calm seas. Craig Lambinon, spokesperson for the NSRI, says the NSRI Simon’s Town volunteer duty crew launched their deep sea rescue craft Spirit of Safmarine III, which was dispatched to the Cape Point Nature Reserve to assist with radio communications. “On arrival onscene, our crew aboard our sea rescue craft found all six crew mem-
bers of the casualty craft safe aboard their ski-boat, which had its motor well and truly tangled in crayfish nets.” He says the crew, all experienced fishermen, had already managed to cut most of the net free, but some net and rope remained “well fast” around the motor. A tow-line was rigged and the NSRI sea rescue craft towed the casualty craft and her crew safely to Simon’s Town harbour, arriving at 03:00. Lambinon says once the boat was safe, no further assistance was required. “The owner will make arrangements to have the crayfish netting removed from the motor and to investigate any damage to the motor.”
Voices of Masi
Anyone who needs more information or would like to encourage the teenagers, who come from HIV/Aids-affected homes in Masiphumelele, can contact John and Barbara Doyle from Cape Missions International on (021) 785-7686 or visit www.capemissionsint.com.
TEENAGERS from Masiphumelele will use song and drama to celebrate Nelson Mandela’s 93rd birthday at the Noordhoek Farm Village on Saturday 23 July from 13:00 to 14:00.