Mystery of the missing masterpiece solved in Arts in Bartlett Fun-raiser

The case of "The Mystery of the Missing Masterpiece," was cracked when an eye witness to the art theft came forward during the April Fool's Night party at the Bartlett Arts Center, 215 S. Main on April 1.

This "fun-raiser" began in February, when people were asked to vote online at artsinbartlett.org for their favorite suspect after reading clues about the 10 'Persons of Interest' participating. Each had motive and access to Bartlett artist Wes Lee K's oil painting, "La flambée des cours de la Tour Eiffel" (Soaring Over the Eiffel Tower), taken from the Arts Center gallery over the holiday break.

Detectives Debbie Fowler and Steve Gibson from How to Get Away with Anything Improv grilled suspects in the lineup that night - Kathryn Benton, teaching artist at Color My World Children's Art Studio; Dorothy Deen, Cello Studio; Liz Georgakis, Bartlett Area Moms (BAM) Facebook administrator; Pam Jaramillo, BookLady's Book Attic; Wes Lee K, artist; and Kevin Wallace, Bartlett Village President - trying to get a confession.

Then Nancy Swantek, a surprise eye witness, said she saw two dark haired women rush out the front door of the Arts Center carrying out a painting, and decided later when she saw the wanted poster with a photo of the painting, that she'd better speak up. She identified Jaramillo, owner of the Booklady's Book Attic, in the lineup and Mary Smith, vice president of the Bartlett Area Chamber of Commerce, from her mug shot. The detectives had already been hot on the trail of Smith after the painting was recovered in the chamber offices, and said Smith confessed when found in Florida, implicating Jaramillo as an accomplice.

This whodunit and reveal party raised $1,225 for the Bartlett Arts Center, where Arts in Bartlett, the nonprofit arts council, maintains a downtown gallery and gift shop; children's art lessons' children's choir and cello, piano, voice, woodwind and violin lessons; and offers Bartlett's only juried fine arts festival in Bartlett Park June 25-26.

For information, go to www.artsinbartlett.org or contact art@artsinbartlett.org.