A piece of art that gained notoriety in the community after its theft and recovery from a city hall exhibition has a new home.
And so does the creator of the piece and the person who purchased it.
The work, entitled B25 Bomber, is a 48x20-inch photo printed on brushed aluminum and produced by photographer Ian McIntosh.
The piece had been stolen Monday, Nov. 4 from the Barrie City Hall Rotunda while McIntosh’s 33-piece exhibit was on display.
Video surveillance and help from the public allowed city police retrieve the art five days later.
But McIntosh decided to use the photo's popularity for charitable gain.
At the grand opening of a new business space shared by McIntosh and fellow entrepreneur Jim Lowe, B25 Bomber was auctioned off last night, with all proceeds going to the Royal Victoria Regional Health Centre (RVH) Foundation.
At Thursday night's event, McIntosh told BarrieToday he was hoping the piece would go to someone who also appreciated the story behind it.
“We’re looking for someone who is interested in it as more of a unique piece with some local history," he said. "It has a small amount of local folklore, with all it went through, so I hope someone enjoys it, but also enjoys the city of Barrie.”
The winning bid was $650 and placed by Lowe, who not only grew up in Barrie, but is heavily associated with the Barrie Bombers lacrosse team.
Lowe says he had no intentions of purchasing the artwork, but got caught up in the giving spirit that was taking place at the opening of the new Alliance Studios at 18 Alliance Blvd., Unit 18.
"It wasn't a planned bid,” Lowe said. “I was really overwhelmed by how many of our guests had pledged to buy Boxes of Hope for Youth Haven and purchased 'Low Grade Celebrity' shirts for Easter Seals Ontario.
"I was just motivated to ensure that our third fundraiser was equally successful," he added.
The auction took place at the new joint venture between Lowe’s Assisting You Social media marketing company and McIntosh’s IGM photography business.
With the photography studio open in the back of the unit and Assisting You Social’s Barrie offices in the front, there's a possibility the work stays close to both photographer and buyer.
"I haven't decided what to do with the print yet,” Lowe said. “Alliance Studios seems like a natural home for it, but I'd also be open to a permanent installation in a more public place so that more people can appreciate both the print itself and its 'art heist' story."
