Friday, February 14, 2014 - 
Archaeology,art theft,Assyrian,Canada,Montreal Museum of Fine Arts,Persepolis,Simon Metke
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Archaeology,art theft,Assyrian,Canada,Montreal Museum of Fine Arts,Persepolis,Simon Metke
No comments
Simon Metke and His Ongoing Relationship with "Protecting" Cultural Heritage
Journalists Cailynn Klingbeil and Jana G. Pruden from the Edmonton Journal have published an article where they have interviewed the 33 year old Edmonton man charged by the RCMP on January 29, 2014 with Possession Stolen Property over $5,000; Possess a Controlled Substance for the Purpose of Trafficking; and Possession of Proceeds of Crime in connection with the thefts from the Montreal Museum of Fine Art.
In a strange twist of you are famous three times and not just once, Simon Metke was first interviewed by CBC News Edmonton in December 2011 at his South Edmonton, Water's Edge condo on Saskatchewan Drive regarding incomplete works by the developer on the exterior of the highrise development.
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| Photo Credit: CBC News Edmonton |
During his interview with Klingbeil and Pruden, Metke indicated he was drawn to the Achaemenid bas-relief panel stolen from the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts in 2011 because of his own interest in Mesopotamian religion and art. He also indicated that he was pleased with having protected the object so that it didn’t get destroyed or lost.
Mr. Metke's feeling of protection towards cultural patrimony also seems to have included historic houses. In March 2013 he was listed as a campaign team member for an Indiegogo crowd sourcing effort to raise $80,000 to preserve a historical landmark home to be designated as "The Healing Arts History House". The home was to be utilized as a community centre for art, massage, music, dance, health, sustainable research, and community living. The project only raised $1450 CAD.
Mr. Metke's feeling of protection towards cultural patrimony also seems to have included historic houses. In March 2013 he was listed as a campaign team member for an Indiegogo crowd sourcing effort to raise $80,000 to preserve a historical landmark home to be designated as "The Healing Arts History House". The home was to be utilized as a community centre for art, massage, music, dance, health, sustainable research, and community living. The project only raised $1450 CAD.
CTV Edmonton News has a live interview with the puzzled Mr. Metke which Canadian viewers can see here.
In further information related to this ongoing investigation, ARCA was informed by Sergente Mélanie Dumaresq, Agent d’information, Service des communications avec les médias for the Sûreté du Québec (via email) that no reward has been paid out related to this case. When asked if police acted on a tip, Sergente Dumaresq replied that “Information received from the public enabled us to advance the investigation and identify the suspect.” She added that the investigation was begun by the Service de police de la Ville de Montréal (SPVM) but was transferred to the Sûreté du Québec in order to make use of the expertise of the integrated artworks investigation team, a specialized team composed of members of the Sûreté du Québec and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. Sergente Dumaresq stated that the investigation indicates that the suspect did not commit the theft at the MMFA, but purchased the object knowing that it had been stolen.
In further information related to this ongoing investigation, ARCA was informed by Sergente Mélanie Dumaresq, Agent d’information, Service des communications avec les médias for the Sûreté du Québec (via email) that no reward has been paid out related to this case. When asked if police acted on a tip, Sergente Dumaresq replied that “Information received from the public enabled us to advance the investigation and identify the suspect.” She added that the investigation was begun by the Service de police de la Ville de Montréal (SPVM) but was transferred to the Sûreté du Québec in order to make use of the expertise of the integrated artworks investigation team, a specialized team composed of members of the Sûreté du Québec and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. Sergente Dumaresq stated that the investigation indicates that the suspect did not commit the theft at the MMFA, but purchased the object knowing that it had been stolen.
Metke has been ordered to appear in an Edmonton courtroom on March 19, 2014.