# My co-worker might be involved in art smuggling - what should I do? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [June 30, 2013, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-co-worker-might-be-involved-in-art-smuggling-what-should-i-do/662269 "2013-06-30T15:46:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Omar\_Little](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omar_little/32/269_2.png) [@Omar\_Little](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omar_Little)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2013, 1:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-co-worker-might-be-involved-in-art-smuggling-what-should-i-do/662269/41 "2013-07-02T13:23:30Z")
Does the artist look like a pirate? ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2013, 1:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-co-worker-might-be-involved-in-art-smuggling-what-should-i-do/662269/42 "2013-07-02T13:44:34Z")
> [@Omar\_Little](#): > > Does the artist look like a pirate? Surely that makes him an Arrr!tist ---
**Author:** ![GrandWino](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grandwino/32/67_2.png) [@GrandWino](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrandWino)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2013, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-co-worker-might-be-involved-in-art-smuggling-what-should-i-do/662269/43 "2013-07-02T14:07:15Z")
> [@Omar\_Little](#): > > Does the artist look like a pirate? If it’s who I, and probably everyone else, is thinking of, then yes. ---
**Author:** ![Mathematics](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f6c823/32.png) [@Mathematics](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mathematics)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2013, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-co-worker-might-be-involved-in-art-smuggling-what-should-i-do/662269/44 "2013-07-02T14:45:18Z")
I feel like such a pleb. I have absolutely no idea who the artist in question might be. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2013, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-co-worker-might-be-involved-in-art-smuggling-what-should-i-do/662269/45 "2013-07-02T14:53:32Z")
> [@Mathematics](#): > > I feel like such a pleb. > > I have absolutely no idea who the artist in question might be. PM’d you. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2013, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-co-worker-might-be-involved-in-art-smuggling-what-should-i-do/662269/46 "2013-07-02T14:54:45Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > PM’d you. Me too. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2013, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-co-worker-might-be-involved-in-art-smuggling-what-should-i-do/662269/47 "2013-07-02T14:59:10Z")
I’m highly amused that, despite the OP’s pussyfooting around, so many people have immediately identified the artist in question. We R smrt. Love his stuff, BTW; I’ve seen a couple of exhibitions of it in the past decade or so. ---
**Author:** ![YogSothoth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/8edcca/32.png) [@YogSothoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YogSothoth)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2013, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-co-worker-might-be-involved-in-art-smuggling-what-should-i-do/662269/48 "2013-07-02T15:06:28Z")
Haven’t you watched any sitcoms at all?? You have to make friends with this guy, get invited into his house and check it out yourself. While secretly taking pictures of his stash, his wife walks in, and in order to throw off suspicion, you have to pretend to hit on her so that he thinks you’re an adulterer, not a rat. And at the end, when they do arrest him and his wife, the mastermind of the whole thing (!!!), you utter a witty line as the police are driving off like “She wanted to sell Van Goghs to get rich, but now she’s simply in a police van going to jail.” Or something ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2013, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-co-worker-might-be-involved-in-art-smuggling-what-should-i-do/662269/49 "2013-07-02T15:12:07Z")
> [@Gyrate](#): > > Love his stuff, BTW; I’ve seen a couple of exhibitions of it in the past decade or so. Same here. The only way I could afford a piece would be if I purchased it from a . . .hey, waitaminit. ---
**Author:** ![AncientHumanoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ancienthumanoid/32/278_2.png) [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2013, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-co-worker-might-be-involved-in-art-smuggling-what-should-i-do/662269/50 "2013-07-02T15:15:22Z")
> [@Gyrate](#): > > I’m highly amused that, despite the OP’s pussyfooting around, so many people have immediately identified the artist in question. We R smrt. > > Love his stuff, BTW; I’ve seen a couple of exhibitions of it in the past decade or so. The sneeze and pirate comments are what really narrowed it down for me. There is another person doing similar art in the same general area. I was glad to figure out who it wasn’t before homing in on the one without a hat. Funny thing is, I hadn’t ever heard of this person before. A simple search of certain terms in this thread (incl OP) got me my result. Sorry, OP. ---
**Author:** ![AaronX](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/7bcc69/32.png) [@AaronX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AaronX)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2013, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-co-worker-might-be-involved-in-art-smuggling-what-should-i-do/662269/51 "2013-07-02T15:16:18Z")
> [@Mathematics](#): > > I feel like such a pleb. > > I have absolutely no idea who the artist in question might be. All I’ve got is Pollock, but I just found out he’s dead 😕 ---
**Author:** ![AncientHumanoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ancienthumanoid/32/278_2.png) [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2013, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-co-worker-might-be-involved-in-art-smuggling-what-should-i-do/662269/52 "2013-07-02T15:17:23Z")
> [@AaronX](#): > > All I’ve got is Pollock, but I just found out he’s dead 😕 I don’t think the OP had anything to do with that, tho. ---
**Author:** ![drastic\_quench](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e36b37/32.png) [@drastic\_quench](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drastic_quench)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2013, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-co-worker-might-be-involved-in-art-smuggling-what-should-i-do/662269/53 "2013-07-02T15:20:23Z")
It took a couple minutes of googling. That pirate comment cinched it. Then I just googled famous living sculptors, and the name was about the fifth one I encountered. I don’t buy the scam for a minute. He might have pieces in his garage, but he’ll never see profit. ---
**Author:** ![Frazzled](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/frazzled/32/3368_2.png) [@Frazzled](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frazzled)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2013, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-co-worker-might-be-involved-in-art-smuggling-what-should-i-do/662269/54 "2013-07-02T17:18:40Z")
I saw some work by this artist (assuming I know who it is) when it was displayed at the Dallas Arboretum last year. Several of his pieces were destroyed in a severe hail storm and replacement parts were sent to fix the damaged sculptures. Given the nature of the work, the potential for damage, and the number of workers who know how to create the pieces for his sculptures minus the name I have to think that there are a large number of pieces out there that resemble the artists work without actually being sanctioned by the artist. If your “friend” has a garage full of sculpture fragments (even if they’re not really broken) then I would think they’re virtually worthless compared to the sculpture as a whole. This artist already has policies in place to replace broken parts and any real collectors would be aware of that. ---
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2013, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-co-worker-might-be-involved-in-art-smuggling-what-should-i-do/662269/55 "2013-07-02T17:53:09Z")
I think the OP should contact the artist. Assuming it is who everyone thinks it is, he has a website you could write (assunming the pill popper isn’t the one answering the emails). ---
**Author:** ![Lasciel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e79b87/32.png) [@Lasciel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lasciel)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2013, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-co-worker-might-be-involved-in-art-smuggling-what-should-i-do/662269/56 "2013-07-02T19:04:22Z")
The OP’s state, the “sneeze” name, and the “heated sand” got it for me, and the “pirate” cinched it. I’ve never heard of this person, nor do I follow art or sculpture, and I am not the best investigator out there. If the OP wanted to keep this on the dl, I think they’re screwed. On the other hand, if the OP is teasing a new thriller-mystery, I’m totally hooked now! I can’t wait for the twist reveal! ---
**Author:** ![GrandWino](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grandwino/32/67_2.png) [@GrandWino](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrandWino)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2013, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-co-worker-might-be-involved-in-art-smuggling-what-should-i-do/662269/57 "2013-07-02T19:43:12Z")
> [@Lasciel](#): > > The OP’s state, the “sneeze” name, and the “heated sand” got it for me, and the “pirate” cinched it. I’ve never heard of this person, nor do I follow art or sculpture, and I am not the best investigator out there. > > If the OP wanted to keep this on the dl, I think they’re screwed. > > On the other hand, if the OP is teasing a new thriller-mystery, I’m totally hooked now! I can’t wait for the twist reveal! Come on… There is essentially a 0% chance of somebody Googling these various search terms while looking for random posts about this alleged crime, that is probably all bullshit to begin with. We can find it because we know what words to string together based on the thread. As if this drug addicted thief is going to hop online and start typing in “WA + Pirate Artist + name sounds like sneeze + heated sand”. ---
**Author:** ![Philliam](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/philliam/32/3011_2.png) [@Philliam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Philliam)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2013, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-co-worker-might-be-involved-in-art-smuggling-what-should-i-do/662269/58 "2013-07-04T15:35:17Z")
Yeah, I think the Artist should just keep his eye on this guy. ---
**Author:** ![NorthernBiker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/50afbb/32.png) [@NorthernBiker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NorthernBiker)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2013, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-co-worker-might-be-involved-in-art-smuggling-what-should-i-do/662269/59 "2013-07-04T15:37:36Z")
I actually used to work with somebody who used to work in this “artist’s” art shop. Some of the work is beautiful but after hearing first hand stories (with photo evidence, and original works of art) about this artist, I would never buy his way overpriced, non “artist” inspired work. ---
**Author:** ![Ike\_Witt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ike_witt/32/283_2.png) [@Ike\_Witt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ike_Witt)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2013, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-co-worker-might-be-involved-in-art-smuggling-what-should-i-do/662269/60 "2013-07-04T15:46:39Z")
> [@Frazzled](#): > > I saw some work by this artist (assuming I know who it is) when it was displayed at the Dallas Arboretum last year. I saw that installation as well, it was colder than hell the night we went but I loved it. I am guessing it is the same artist. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-co-worker-might-be-involved-in-art-smuggling-what-should-i-do/662269.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-co-worker-might-be-involved-in-art-smuggling-what-should-i-do/662269.md?page=4)