Post by The Ultimate Nullifier on Jun 18, 2014 8:38:09 GMT -6
A successful weekend at Denver Comic Con turned sour for Zac and Mindy Conley, the owners of The Hall of Justice art gallery, after a thief stole a cash box containing their proceeds from the show, about $1,000, and some special orders for Mindy Conley’s artwork, which would have earned the couple another $1,500. The Conleys say they were planning to use the money for rent for their home and studio and the payment for their booth at next year’s Denver Comic Con. “We’ve been fighting to turn this place into some really cool. And every month we’re wondering if we’re going to survive,” Zac said. However, friends are rallying around: Illustrator Drew Litton, who will be showing his work at the gallery next month, will donate a portion of the proceeds to the Conleys, and gifts are also coming in through their Facebook page.
www.facebook.com/HOJGallery
blogs.denverpost.com/nerd/2014/06/17/denver-comic-gallery-hall-justice-denver-comic-con-proceeds-stolen/2462/
One Denver family’s Denver Comic Con weekend was ruined Sunday evening by a thief.
Zac and Mindy Conley, owners of The Hall of Justice Comic and Entertainment Art Gallery, were looking forward to relaxing after a successful weekend at the convention. Those plans were soon thwarted after a thief broke into their car and made off with a cash box full of weekend earnings and more.
For small gallery owners trying to get their business off the ground, this theft not only ruined their weekend, but also put the studio at risk of closing.
“We were intending to use this money for our rent for home, our rent for this studio and to secure a booth for next year’s Denver Comic Con, and now we can’t. It’s all gone,” Zac said.
The Conleys have been working to find a patron or investors to elevate the 841 Arts Program – a partnership between their gallery and fellow building-mates the Dead (Denver Entertainment Art and Design) Academy and Hyperflesh Studios** in the Denver community.
“We’ve been fighting to turn this place into some really cool. And every month we’re wondering if we’re going to survive,” Zac Conley explained. “It’s so neat that we have this, and it’s so scary that we can lose it.”
Zac and Mindy estimate about $1,000 cash was stolen, along with some special orders for Mindy’s artwork, which could bring in an additional $1,500. Adding insult to injury, there is no way to contact those who ordered commissions since the receipt book with that information was also in the box. They are hopeful those who purchased art will reach out once their artwork doesn’t arrive as promised.
As many of us are prone to do, the Conleys vented their frustrations on Facebook. They were met with an outpouring of support from artists and friends alike. Syndicated Chicago Tribune cartoonist and illustrator Drew Litton, who has a show at the gallery coming up on July 4, has offered to donate a portion of the sale of some of his prints to the gallery.
And then there are the strangers whom the Conleys have never met.
“We’ve received about $120 in donations so far from people we don’t even know, and have heard from artists from all over country wanting to donate,” Zac said. “I went from being completely bawling my eyes out and being completely distraught to thinking that life is grand because people are good.”
Zac has heard from several people who want to set up fundraising sites, but none are yet active. Anyone who wants to help can contact the Conleys directly, either through the Hall of Justice Gallery Facebook page, or by emailing Mindy or Zac directly.
www.facebook.com/HOJGallery
blogs.denverpost.com/nerd/2014/06/17/denver-comic-gallery-hall-justice-denver-comic-con-proceeds-stolen/2462/
One Denver family’s Denver Comic Con weekend was ruined Sunday evening by a thief.
Zac and Mindy Conley, owners of The Hall of Justice Comic and Entertainment Art Gallery, were looking forward to relaxing after a successful weekend at the convention. Those plans were soon thwarted after a thief broke into their car and made off with a cash box full of weekend earnings and more.
For small gallery owners trying to get their business off the ground, this theft not only ruined their weekend, but also put the studio at risk of closing.
“We were intending to use this money for our rent for home, our rent for this studio and to secure a booth for next year’s Denver Comic Con, and now we can’t. It’s all gone,” Zac said.
The Conleys have been working to find a patron or investors to elevate the 841 Arts Program – a partnership between their gallery and fellow building-mates the Dead (Denver Entertainment Art and Design) Academy and Hyperflesh Studios** in the Denver community.
“We’ve been fighting to turn this place into some really cool. And every month we’re wondering if we’re going to survive,” Zac Conley explained. “It’s so neat that we have this, and it’s so scary that we can lose it.”
Zac and Mindy estimate about $1,000 cash was stolen, along with some special orders for Mindy’s artwork, which could bring in an additional $1,500. Adding insult to injury, there is no way to contact those who ordered commissions since the receipt book with that information was also in the box. They are hopeful those who purchased art will reach out once their artwork doesn’t arrive as promised.
As many of us are prone to do, the Conleys vented their frustrations on Facebook. They were met with an outpouring of support from artists and friends alike. Syndicated Chicago Tribune cartoonist and illustrator Drew Litton, who has a show at the gallery coming up on July 4, has offered to donate a portion of the sale of some of his prints to the gallery.
And then there are the strangers whom the Conleys have never met.
“We’ve received about $120 in donations so far from people we don’t even know, and have heard from artists from all over country wanting to donate,” Zac said. “I went from being completely bawling my eyes out and being completely distraught to thinking that life is grand because people are good.”
Zac has heard from several people who want to set up fundraising sites, but none are yet active. Anyone who wants to help can contact the Conleys directly, either through the Hall of Justice Gallery Facebook page, or by emailing Mindy or Zac directly.