A painting sold by mistake at the Bar U Ranch gift shop one month ago still has not been found.
Bison on the Western Range, a painting by Calgary artist Corrie Buwalda, was on display at the national historic site's gift shop located about 40 minutes southwest of Okotoks when it was purchased by a middle-aged man on July 8.
The artwork should not have been sold as it was part of the Friends of the Bar U Historic Ranch Association's collection.
News of the mix up has been widely shared on social media, and through several news outlets, but the identity of the person who bought the painting remains a mystery.
“There has not been one peep,” said Friends of the Bar U board member Laurie Rowe.
Efforts to find out the identity of the buyer through their credit card company were unsuccessful, Rowe said.
“Because it’s not a crime, it’s not a theft, they won’t release any information at all,” she said.
The person who bought the painting could be travelling and might not be aware that a mistake was made, Rowe said.
The art shows bison grazing where the ranch buildings stand and has special meaning for volunteers.
A refund is offered for its return and the painting has been added to the Art Loss Register, an international database of lost and stolen art, Rowe said.
Several unfortunate circumstances lined up for the sale to take place, including a staff member who usually doesn't work at the gift shop filling in that day.
Anyone with information about the painting is asked to contact the association at friendsofthebaru.com.
