Have you noticed any strange, out-of-place surrealist art in a friend’s or neighbor’s dorm room? In early August, two pieces of artwork were stolen from Hege Library. The Greensboro police are involved, and the investigation is ongoing.
The pieces stolen were by surrealist artists Juan Miro and Yves Tanguy. The lithograph by Miro and drawing by Tanguy were first discovered missing on Aug. 29 by curator Terry Hammond and a work-study student. “We don’t know exactly when the (pieces) were stolen,” Hammond said. “We were changing light bulbs one day and noticed the missing artwork. (They) might have been stolen as early as the 13th while I was on vacation. A librarian said she noticed something out of place, but she didn’t think too much of it.”
Both pieces are surrealist in nature. The Miro is a lithograph of organic black shapes on a white background. The Tanguy is a drawing of abstract forms in black ink.
“I feel sick at heart, just sick. I have been doing this job for 17 years and this is the first time anything like this has happened,” Hammond said. “I cannot comment on the value of the pieces, but they are invaluable to me.”
This theft has angered many people in Guilford’s art community.
“It’s really a shame that someone would be so selfish to steal a piece of artwork that was being shown for everyone’s enjoyment,” said junior Jimmy Pratt, an art major. “It’s just ridiculous.”
“It’s outrageous; artwork is so beautiful and so personal, it has such meaning to its creator and for someone to steal it is just mind blowing,” said junior James Jenkins, another art major.
The library has had a few problems with theft in the past, usually with the occasional unreturned book or DVD.
“A few laptops have been stolen since I have been working at the library,” said junior Shepherd Lashley, who has worked in the library for the past three years. “The library is the single largest investment on Guilford’s campus,” said Mary Ellen Chijioke, Director of Hege Library. “Everyone can participate in the security of the library. It’s important that if you are uncomfortable about something, say so . it’s a communal responsibility to take care of community property.”
Thefts occur at any college and Guilford is no exception. Numerous things are reported stolen on Guilford’s campus every year and many more go unreported.
In 2006, there were 26 reported burglaries on campus, all of which occurred in residence halls.