A stolen camera will be reconnected with its artist owner, after police shared the distinctive photographs from the camera, which were of her work.
Portland artist Sharon Smith said someone stole the camera and other items — including a toolbox and tools, some art supplies, her passport and other documents —from her car in January.
The police recovered the car and some stolen goods, including the camera, in February. The department shared photos found on the camera Tuesday.
The politically tinged art stood out, and Smith got word of the department’s find after someone did some sleuthing and connected her name to some of the art. It turned out photos were her shots of her art projects.
“He did a Google search of ‘world’s worst analogy medal,’” Smith said, in reference to one of her pieces, a send-up of Republican Senator and presidential candidate Rick Santorum.
She said she’ll meet with police Thursday, although she’s unsure whether any of her other things were found.
For the most part, she’s been able to clean up the mess from when her car as ripped off.
A few years ago, a friend persuaded her to get renter’s insurance, she said. “Which I completely recommend. And that actually covered a lot of stuff that was taken from the car.”
A good chunk of the money she got back ended up going toward expenses for her next apartment, she said, but she’s happy to recover the camera.
“And now getting the camera back is like, wow,” she said. “I’m exited. I am unbelievably happy.”