MAINE COMPUTERS STOLEN http://www.timesrecord.com/articles/2011/06/13/news/doc4df6317a22df0661871771.txt
Thieves strike at Spindleworks
Cash, computers with disabled artists’ archived works swiped from Brunswick gallery
By Beth Brogan, Times Record Staff
BRUNSWICK — Laptop computers containing digital archives of years of work by Spindleworks artists were stolen during the weekend from the organization’s studio on Lincoln Street.
Brunswick police responded Sunday afternoon to Spindleworks, a nonprofit art center for adults with disabilities, where a staff member reported that four laptops and an undisclosed amount of cash had been stolen some time between Friday evening and Sunday, Deputy Chief Marc Hagan of the Brunswick Police Department said today.
“It was all the art — our entire record of the last probably eight years or so,” Liz McGhee, Spindleworks’ executive director, said this morning.
While the organization had just purchased a carbonite backup system, files were still being uploaded — a process that was taking weeks, McGhee said.
“Whatever didn’t get backed up yet will be a tremendous loss,” she said.
On Sunday afternoon, detectives collected evidence from the scene and the investigation continues today, Hagan said, declining to comment further.
Spindleworks is closed today due to ongoing water main work on Lincoln Street, which requires that water be turned off.
McGhee said she will notify artists about the burglary. She expects their reactions to vary depending, in part, on whether they have had similar experiences in their lives.
“In some ways, they will understand the seriousness of the violation, although I think that if it was artwork that had been stolen, it would have been a much different story.”
Still, McGhee said the artists are “amazingly resilient.”
“One of the sad things — but it’s true — about people with disabilities in general is that their world is full of loss,” she said. “Their world has been full of pain and violation. ... I’ve found in the 10 years I’ve worked with them that they’re amazingly resilient. It’s a strength, but it’s also really sad that they have been hurt enough that they have learned how to bounce back ... many have been abused in some way and ... as with the deaths they see in the community in Spindleworks, they grieve as they need to and then they move on.”
McGhee isn’t sure how much insurance will cover the computer equipment, but she’s confident the organization will rally.
“There’s this amazing light that shines over 7 Lincoln St.,” she said. “It gives me goosebumps. If I’m thinking, ‘Oh, man, I really need to order some beads’ ... within the next 24 hours, something will walk in related to that request to the universe ... people take care of us and Brunswick takes care of us.”
bbrogan@timesrecord.com
Brunswick police responded Sunday afternoon to Spindleworks, a nonprofit art center for adults with disabilities, where a staff member reported that four laptops and an undisclosed amount of cash had been stolen some time between Friday evening and Sunday, Deputy Chief Marc Hagan of the Brunswick Police Department said today.
“It was all the art — our entire record of the last probably eight years or so,” Liz McGhee, Spindleworks’ executive director, said this morning.
While the organization had just purchased a carbonite backup system, files were still being uploaded — a process that was taking weeks, McGhee said.
“Whatever didn’t get backed up yet will be a tremendous loss,” she said.
On Sunday afternoon, detectives collected evidence from the scene and the investigation continues today, Hagan said, declining to comment further.
Spindleworks is closed today due to ongoing water main work on Lincoln Street, which requires that water be turned off.
McGhee said she will notify artists about the burglary. She expects their reactions to vary depending, in part, on whether they have had similar experiences in their lives.
“In some ways, they will understand the seriousness of the violation, although I think that if it was artwork that had been stolen, it would have been a much different story.”
Still, McGhee said the artists are “amazingly resilient.”
“One of the sad things — but it’s true — about people with disabilities in general is that their world is full of loss,” she said. “Their world has been full of pain and violation. ... I’ve found in the 10 years I’ve worked with them that they’re amazingly resilient. It’s a strength, but it’s also really sad that they have been hurt enough that they have learned how to bounce back ... many have been abused in some way and ... as with the deaths they see in the community in Spindleworks, they grieve as they need to and then they move on.”
McGhee isn’t sure how much insurance will cover the computer equipment, but she’s confident the organization will rally.
“There’s this amazing light that shines over 7 Lincoln St.,” she said. “It gives me goosebumps. If I’m thinking, ‘Oh, man, I really need to order some beads’ ... within the next 24 hours, something will walk in related to that request to the universe ... people take care of us and Brunswick takes care of us.”
bbrogan@timesrecord.com
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