'Yukon Seasons' Registered with the Art Loss Register - CBC Feature Interview with Christopher A. Marinello Executive Director & General Counsel of The Art Loss Register, New York, USA
January 23, 2008 Filed in: Yukon Seasons Heist
LINK: Listen to this CBC interview on YouTube
(moose antler skull carving, moose antler skull sculpture)
Text:
Sandy Coleman - CBC Whitehorse Morning Show Host
The Art Loss Register recovers lost and stolen art, antiques and collectibles from around the world. In the past it has helped recover multi-million dollar paintings by the likes of Picasso. Now it's going to be used in the search for the Shane Wilson carved moose antler sculpture that was heisted from the Canada Games complex last fall.
Chris Marinello is the organization's Director and General Counsel and he joins us this morning from New York.
Tell me how the Art Loss Register works.
Chris Marinello - Director and General Counsel, Art Loss Register
We have a database of over two hundred thousand items that were reported stolen over the years and our team of art historians search auction catalogues, sales, shows, fairs and dealers stock as well as eBay and other computer on-line auctions to look for these items that were reported stolen to us. The key is we need people, when they've had a theft, to report it to the Art Loss Register, or report it to a police department that will report it to the Art Loss Register.
Sandy Coleman - CBC Whitehorse Morning Show Host
Is it an automatic reporting by police?
Chris Marinello - Director and General Counsel, Art Loss Register
No it's not, unfortunately. A lot of the law enforcement agencies, here in the States, on the East Coast and the West Coast know about us and use us quite frequently including the FBI. World wide, Interpol uses us, the Italian Carabinieri, but sadly a lot of law enforcement doesn't know we exist and we are a free service to law enforcement. We can help them catch their criminals while the Art Loss Register is helping theft victims with their art.
Sandy Coleman - CBC Whitehorse Morning Show Host
I'm wondering how Shane Wilson's sculpture, 'Yukon Seasons', made it onto your list.
Chris Marinello - Director and General Counsel, Art Loss Register
Well, we saw the reports and actually found it quite an interesting story and contacted the artist, who put us in touch with the Canada Games Centre and we have got it listed on our database now. If it does turn up, I think we're in a very good position to find it.
Sandy Coleman - CBC Whitehorse Morning Show Host
When we're talking about paintings, by such as Picasso, that you've helped relocate, could it be any value of object that gets put onto this list?
Chris Marinello - Director and General Counsel, Art Loss Register
It needs to be unique. An item where there were 3000 copies produced is very difficult to be able to locate and identify. But something such as this, I mean it truly is a Picasso for the Yukon Territory, I mean it's an unbelievable sculpture and it certainly is unique and if it does show up at an auction, whether it's in Canada or the States or anywhere else worldwide, we'll find it. It's a unique work of art.
Sandy Coleman - CBC Whitehorse Morning Show Host
What would be in thieves heads to steal this particular piece, where are you going to look for it?
Chris Marinello - Director and General Counsel, Art Loss Register
First of all, thieves want money. They say, "Well, can I get any money out of this?" There's already been one report that it may have appeared at a sale somewhere and that's what the thieves are looking for, they're looking to get money. Sell it to somebody who doesn't know it was stolen and put some money in their pocket. And with the Art Loss Register, we're searching so many sales and so many auction houses.
But we have another weapon at our disposal. We have people out there, millions of people who use our service as a due diligence service. Before they buy art, they will contact us and say, "Hey, I've got a moose sculpture in front of me that's really unbelievable and I'm about to buy it. Could you tell me if it has ever been reported stolen?" And we will say, "I'm sorry, yes it has been reported and we'll take the information and notify the police.
Sandy Coleman - CBC Whitehorse Morning Show Host
In your experience, something like this, it's such a fantastic piece that I can't think of it being hoarded away in someone's basement. It's something, I would think, they'd want to show off, a collector?
Chris Marinello - Director and General Counsel, Art Loss Register
Well, absolutely. There's a theory out there that some Dr No type person is out there collecting phenomenal works of art and putting it on their wall for their private pleasure, but we really don't believe that exists. I think it's a Hollywood creation only. We think they're first looking to get some money out of it. And that they're going to move the art to a place where they think they can sell it and no one will know.
Sandy Coleman - CBC Whitehorse Morning Show Host
I'm curious what would be your biggest recovery to date and what odds you give on this sculpture showing up?
Chris Marinello - Director and General Counsel, Art Loss Register
Well, we recovered hundreds of millions of dollars worth of art world wide. Now we did have, not too long ago, a very well known Cezanne that we recovered for a US family and it was in the 30-40 million dollar range. But we recover works of art all the time that are just $2000 or $3000 dollars as well.
Sandy Coleman - CBC Whitehorse Morning Show Host
And you think a pretty good chance you might find this one?
Chris Marinello - Director and General Counsel, Art Loss Register
We're going to look for it. I'm hopeful!
Sandy Coleman - CBC Whitehorse Morning Show Host
All right, well you stay in touch with us.
Chris Marinello - Director and General Counsel, Art Loss Register
We will.
Sandy Coleman - CBC Whitehorse Morning Show Host
We've been speaking with Chris Marinello, who is the Director and General Counsel for the Art Loss Register. We've reached him this morning from New York City. We will certainly stay in touch and see what, perhaps, turns up!
Chris Marinello - Director and General Counsel, Art Loss Register
We have a database of over two hundred thousand items that were reported stolen over the years and our team of art historians search auction catalogues, sales, shows, fairs and dealers stock as well as eBay and other computer on-line auctions to look for these items that were reported stolen to us. The key is we need people, when they've had a theft, to report it to the Art Loss Register, or report it to a police department that will report it to the Art Loss Register.
Sandy Coleman - CBC Whitehorse Morning Show Host
Is it an automatic reporting by police?
Chris Marinello - Director and General Counsel, Art Loss Register
No it's not, unfortunately. A lot of the law enforcement agencies, here in the States, on the East Coast and the West Coast know about us and use us quite frequently including the FBI. World wide, Interpol uses us, the Italian Carabinieri, but sadly a lot of law enforcement doesn't know we exist and we are a free service to law enforcement. We can help them catch their criminals while the Art Loss Register is helping theft victims with their art.
Sandy Coleman - CBC Whitehorse Morning Show Host
I'm wondering how Shane Wilson's sculpture, 'Yukon Seasons', made it onto your list.
Chris Marinello - Director and General Counsel, Art Loss Register
Well, we saw the reports and actually found it quite an interesting story and contacted the artist, who put us in touch with the Canada Games Centre and we have got it listed on our database now. If it does turn up, I think we're in a very good position to find it.
Sandy Coleman - CBC Whitehorse Morning Show Host
When we're talking about paintings, by such as Picasso, that you've helped relocate, could it be any value of object that gets put onto this list?
Chris Marinello - Director and General Counsel, Art Loss Register
It needs to be unique. An item where there were 3000 copies produced is very difficult to be able to locate and identify. But something such as this, I mean it truly is a Picasso for the Yukon Territory, I mean it's an unbelievable sculpture and it certainly is unique and if it does show up at an auction, whether it's in Canada or the States or anywhere else worldwide, we'll find it. It's a unique work of art.
Sandy Coleman - CBC Whitehorse Morning Show Host
What would be in thieves heads to steal this particular piece, where are you going to look for it?
Chris Marinello - Director and General Counsel, Art Loss Register
First of all, thieves want money. They say, "Well, can I get any money out of this?" There's already been one report that it may have appeared at a sale somewhere and that's what the thieves are looking for, they're looking to get money. Sell it to somebody who doesn't know it was stolen and put some money in their pocket. And with the Art Loss Register, we're searching so many sales and so many auction houses.
But we have another weapon at our disposal. We have people out there, millions of people who use our service as a due diligence service. Before they buy art, they will contact us and say, "Hey, I've got a moose sculpture in front of me that's really unbelievable and I'm about to buy it. Could you tell me if it has ever been reported stolen?" And we will say, "I'm sorry, yes it has been reported and we'll take the information and notify the police.
Sandy Coleman - CBC Whitehorse Morning Show Host
In your experience, something like this, it's such a fantastic piece that I can't think of it being hoarded away in someone's basement. It's something, I would think, they'd want to show off, a collector?
Chris Marinello - Director and General Counsel, Art Loss Register
Well, absolutely. There's a theory out there that some Dr No type person is out there collecting phenomenal works of art and putting it on their wall for their private pleasure, but we really don't believe that exists. I think it's a Hollywood creation only. We think they're first looking to get some money out of it. And that they're going to move the art to a place where they think they can sell it and no one will know.
Sandy Coleman - CBC Whitehorse Morning Show Host
I'm curious what would be your biggest recovery to date and what odds you give on this sculpture showing up?
Chris Marinello - Director and General Counsel, Art Loss Register
Well, we recovered hundreds of millions of dollars worth of art world wide. Now we did have, not too long ago, a very well known Cezanne that we recovered for a US family and it was in the 30-40 million dollar range. But we recover works of art all the time that are just $2000 or $3000 dollars as well.
Sandy Coleman - CBC Whitehorse Morning Show Host
And you think a pretty good chance you might find this one?
Chris Marinello - Director and General Counsel, Art Loss Register
We're going to look for it. I'm hopeful!
Sandy Coleman - CBC Whitehorse Morning Show Host
All right, well you stay in touch with us.
Chris Marinello - Director and General Counsel, Art Loss Register
We will.
Sandy Coleman - CBC Whitehorse Morning Show Host
We've been speaking with Chris Marinello, who is the Director and General Counsel for the Art Loss Register. We've reached him this morning from New York City. We will certainly stay in touch and see what, perhaps, turns up!