Monthly Archive for February, 2009

*UPDATE 3/17/2009: My camera has now been replaced with a brand new one! Unbeknown to me, one of my most thoughtful of friends named, DAAS took it upon himself to replace my stolen camera out of his own finances and kindness. It really took me by surprise when the delivery truck showed up and I looked inside the package. It’s things and people like this who help restore a small bit of my diminishing faith in the basic goodness of my fellow man.

PS - Love and thanks to all the rest of my friends & family for your continued support in me and my w3rk. Without you all, I just don’t think much of life would be worth it.

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So those of you who know me well, may be aware that I haven’t exactly had the best run of luck in the past few months. Try as I may to stay positive and productive, it all sometimes feels like I can’t even win for losing. Well add another kick in the pants to my list of recent anguishes.

It starting to appear as though somebody may have stolen my new Canon Powershot A590is Digital Camera from me this past Saturday/ Feb. 21st.

Here’s what the camera looks like should you somehow come a crossed it:

My wife Dana saved all her extra tips for weeks just to get it for me on my last Birthday in November. This is/was my only camera and I use it for everything from photoing friends, family, and events to photoing my all my aRtw3rk for cataloging and for my websites. So don’t expect to see any photos of new aRtw3rk until the camera is returned (doubtful) or until I can save up enough money to replace it.

One of the worst parts of it was that the camera was taken right under my nose while I was taking my all the aRt down from the recent group show that I curated at Caffe daVinci’s in Deland, FL. (Which made not one sale by the way.)

Basically what happened was that I was using the camera to photo the artw3rk while taking it all down on feb 21st. The Caffe was closed, so there was a very small amount of traffic all afternoon. I really don’t want to think that someone would steal the camera, but last time I remembered it was sitting right by the cash register on the bar. A few other folks remember seeing it there as well. Around 3 - 4 o’clock I noticed it wasn’t there anymore, and myself and some caffe staff then looked everywhere we possible could inside daVinci’s and in the courtyard too.. all to no avail. I even drove back up today for one last look as did some more of the staff. So it’s pretty apparent that the camera didn’t grow legs and just walk off.. somebody must of pocketed it without much concern to whom they could be hurting.

I’ll be honest, it really ticks me off that I’m already giving my blood, sweat, tears, & life to a career that I seldom get paid for, and on top of it all I’ve then have people constantly trying to rob the little bit of things that I do have right out from under me. -And seemingly without much shame. I give my ALL to my friends, my art, my performances, and to Deland especially. So it just freakin’ tears me up to be repeatedly stolen from. This is not the first thing that’s been stolen from me in the past few years.

And guess what else?.. the 2 gig SD memory card in the stolen camera was loaded with hundreds of photos & video from my recent aRt show, and a party for a recent visit from and old friend Brett Hamil.

Though I am too broke right now to re-buy them, the camera and card are eventually replaceable… -However the actual images on the SD card not. I hope the person who stole my camera is reminded of the recorded memories he or she is robbing from me and family when they turn the camera on and/or try to use the memory card with their computer. Cuz there’s some great photography stored in in that digi-cam right now. I hope the image of my face and art are burned into their corrupted souls and thieving stone hearts. Unfortunately most thieves are nihilistic bastards who could care less who they harm with their crimes against their fellow man.

*Note to crooks: Try stealing shit from people who actually have some money.

Apologies for the novel/diatribe but I’m really hurting/reeling from yet another let down in my fellow humankind. I used to think there was more good in the world than evil, but I’m definitely starting to wonder if that is actually the case.

Let’s get to THE REWARD:
-Should someone return the camera to me or to davInci’s in the original condition w/ memory card and photos still inside.. No questions asked - I will happily give you a one-of-a-kind Gar Bailey original painting of at least 2 - 3 feet in width or height minimum. And you can count on that painting being worth some serious dough in the future.

Please Email me with any info at: algarhythm@gmail.com or just comment on this post.

Sincerely - Matthew Gar Bailey