Notice of Art Theft

Updates:

**This debt has now been paid - see last update below.

*Early March 2008, Ms. Guidinger contacted me and requested I remove this theft notice. She promised to send payment for the 15 paintings below by April 5 2008. I removed this notice. She did not send payment. This notice was reposted.

*Spring 2008, I was contacted by 2 TV shows, "Judge Mathis" and "Cristina's Court", both of which asked if I would have this case on their show. I agreed and filled out the necessary forms. They either couldn't find Ms. Guidinger, or she wouldn't agree to appear on either show.

*March 30, 2010, I received an email from Ms. Guidinger stating she looked forward to seeing this come to an end with all sides satisfied, and that in the next three months she will send out 6 payments to me.

*July 2 2010, I received the first payment, 1/6 of the total she owes me.

*May 19 2011, I received a second payment
from Ms. Guidinger. She has now paid 31% of what she owes.

*December 2011, Ms. Guidinger sent the final payment which has completely paid off this debt.

Note: David Kontra is a blind artist

In August of 2007 I had an art show at D Gallery, located at 222 Wisconsin Ave., Oceanside, California and run by an art dealer using the name Gia Guidinger ( aka Gia Jensen ). I was looking forward to making an appearance on opening night, meeting the people who would be attending and explaining how I create my art. Opening night came and it was a pleasure to greet and converse with the people in attendance. I left California and returned home with many fond memories of the people I'd met. Two weeks later I received an email from a friend who told me D Gallery had closed and all of my art was gone. After contacting Ms. Guidinger by phone and threatening to call the police, I did have most of my art works returned. However, 15 of my paintings have never been returned to me, nor have I received one penny for them. Terms were explicitly stated in a contract between Ms. Guidinger and I that she would offer my paintings for sale until Sept 1 2007, return any unsold paintings by Oct 1 2007, the sales would be split 50/50 between the two of us and that I would receive my share by Sept 10 2007. I'm sure at least some of these paintings were sold legitimately during the show, but Ms. Guidinger has consistently refused my several requests for a sales total. Below is a picture of her and myself on opening night, and below that are images of the 15 paintings. There are also photos below of some of the wonderful folks who honored me with their presence at my show and I thank them for all their kind words regarding my art.

***

Ms. Guidinger and myself on opening night

Photo courtesy of Peter Riordan