Missing Vandergrift ArtFest painting returned to artist
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A painting that was feared stolen from Vandergrift’s ArtFest last weekend has been found.
ArtFest chairperson Lisa Dormire posted the update to social media Sunday morning.
An ocean-themed 16×20 oil painting by Alle-Kiski Valley artist JoAnn Wesolosky disappeared from a pop-up gallery last Sunday and organizers took to social media asking for the public’s assistance in locating the painting.
Wesolosky is a retired Kiski Area School District art teacher said she was “excited” to learn her painting had been returned.
RELATED: Painting reported missing by organizers of Vandergrift ArtFest
“It’s an original painting with personal memories,” said Wesolosky of Allegheny Township. “I want to say thank you to Mary Jo Riddle, Mariless Kessler and Lisa Dormire for making the public aware of the public aware of the missing painting and for doing such a wonderful job of the ArtFest.”
“We’re so grateful to the Trib and the power of social media that shared this story far and wide which provided us for the result we hoped for all along,” Dormire said.
A passerby noticed a bag containing the painting in front of the State Farm late Saturday afternoon and turned the package into Vandergrift Police.
The good Samaritan wished to remain anonymous, and organizers stated no questions would be asked as part of their plea for the public’s help in locating the painting.
“We’re just so grateful to be able to put this painting back in the hands of the artist,” Dormire said.
Dormire said she was initially in disbelief Saturday when she received a call from Vandergrift Police Officer William Weber explaining that he had the missing painting.
“I was shocked because while we hoped for this outcome, we did not expect this outcome,” Dormire said.
“This will always be a perplexing mystery to us, but the good people of Vandergrift came through so this story has a happy ending,” Dormire said.
Dormire said the painting will be returned to Wesolosky Monday and said the artist is “very happy and overjoyed” to have her painting back.
Dormire said ArtFest has insurance and she would have handled filing a claim on Wesolosky’s behalf for the value of the painting, but she welcomed the good news of the painting’s reappearance.
“You can’t put a value on a painting that’s sentimental like that,” Dormire said.