Art comes in many forms. Examples of art can range from riveting performances on the big screen to vibrant watercolors on bare canvas. In our modern world, we constantly indulge in art, whether we know it or not. Art is meant to change perspectives, provoke thought, as well as provide a form of entertainment. For this, most of us have come to appreciate art, but others take it a step too far. 

During the beginning of the pandemic, many public places, including art museums, were forced to follow strict lockdown guidelines, closing their doors to guests and customers. Unforeseen to the Singer Laren Museum, this would invite disaster. On March 30, 2020, the museum dedicated to the late William Henry Singer was burglarized when a thief used a sledgehammer to bash in its glass doors. Footage shows the thief wasting no time, quickly grabbing a painting and disappearing just as fast. His loot? The Parsonage Garden at Nuenen in Spring 1884, a Van Gogh piece worth an astounding 7,299,750.00 in U.S currency. The painting has not yet made its way back to the museum, but officials have hope for the painting’s return. Pictures of Van Gogh’s work, most likely taken by the thief, have appeared with the painting intact. Mr. Brand, an art crimes investigator, said, “…you see that criminals get nervous and they feel the police are on their backs and they destroy it. Now we know that it hasn’t been destroyed.”

This is not the last time we would see art thieves strike during the pandemic. Italian police recently arrested a man who was alleged to have acquired stolen goods. Their suspicions would be well-founded when they happened upon a hidden Salvator Mundi, a painting created by renowned artist Leonardo Da Vinci. The priceless painting had been stolen when the Museum of San Domenico Maggiore in Naples was forced to close. This means that not only was a priceless painting stolen, but it was stolen without anyone around to question its whereabouts.

Abby Warren, a senior at Bob Jones, said, ” Now I’m a digital artist so I can’t speak for traditional art thievery, but I’ve witnessed first-hand people taking art for their own personal gain. It’s definitely disheartening…”

In addition to losing traditional art pieces, many movies have been delayed until theaters can reopen in full capacity. Unfortunately, movie theaters like Hollywood 18 in Huntsville are being demolished, and others are like Cinemark at Bridgestreet are only seeing a fraction of the customer base.

Many music festivals and concerts have also been postponed and then postponed again. Live theatre, like Broadway and even our popular plays and musicals here at Bob Jones, have felt the crunch of the pandemic.

The pandemic has lasted for over a year, and in that time, we have seen the impact it has had on our lives. Luxuries like movie theaters and concerts have been robbed from us, and this trend doesn’t appear to be stopping anytime soon. It seems as if the true thief here is the virus.