[MSN] Halifax. Rare prints taken in raid on art gallery.

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Rare prints taken in raid on art gallery



A print entitled And We Danced taken from the Satloka Gallery:
http://www.halifaxcourier.co.uk/local-news/Rare-prints-taken-in-raid.3169425
.jp

By Suzanne Rutter 


THOUSANDS of pounds worth of rare prints have been stolen in an
early-morning raid on an art gallery. 

Tony Satloka was woken by police on Sunday morning after the robbery at his
Satloka Gallery, Wade House Road, Shelf, at 5.15am. 

Four hooded youths are believed to have smashed the store's windows with
bricks and made off with £3,000 worth of limited-edition prints. 
The images included four by Brazillian-born artist Henderson Cisz, El Chal,
or The Shawl, by Fletcher Sibthorp and two by David Farren. 

They included a copy of Cisz's 70-inch by 30-inch Chrysler View, one of only
195 nationally. 

Gallery owner Mr Satloka, 57, said: "I could understand someone stealing a
Monet and keeping it rolled up in a vault all their lives. But
limited-edition prints are very difficult to sell. If someone tries to sell
these on e-Bay they will shoot themselves in the foot. 

"Stealing a painting is not the same as stealing a television. It's sad that
people can destroy what others value and treasure." Mr Satloka said he was
reluctant to put bars across the windows of his shop. 

"The store is now boarded up. But I'm in the business of selling imagery –
90 per cent of my customers come to the gallery because of the window
displays. Bars would ruin that." 

The youths were prevented from taking more of the store's stock by the
landlord of nearby The Duke of Wellington pub. 

Hand-crafted glass by international glass manufacturers Svaja and Kinky
Glass, worth about £4,000, was broken in the raid. 

Mr Satloka, also an artist, said it would cost thousands of pounds to
replace the windows. He has owned the gallery for 18 months and sells work
by local and international artists. 

A police spokesman said: "Some youths were seen running off with pieces of
art towards Lightcliffe roundabout. 

"Anyone who is offered any artwork, and is suspicious about where it came
from, should contact us." 

Anyone with information should call police on 01422 337059. 

Last Updated: 03 September 2007 4:20 PM

http://www.halifaxcourier.co.uk/