any takers?

So I bought this painting years ago at the Salvation Army in Mankato, MN.  Mostly I bought it for the frame, a pretty gold one, but after reading the back I decided that I would leave the painting inside of it and hang it in my studio (back in the days when I had a studio...sigh).

It hung there for a year and when we moved to Sartell it came along, immediately finding a home on the wall.  Of all the pieces of art I have discarded over the years and all of the photographs/paintings that have been replaced by new photos, this painting by Ashley Gish has remained a part of my decor.

Yesterday, I decided that my basement is no longer acceptable and I need to create a "theme" to the art down there.  I'm afraid that it's time for the painting to go. 

I decided that a painting winning the prestigious award of "County Fair 2001, 2nd Place" should never be ditched at a thrift store for a second time so I searched through Facebook (using Jahred's account that I occasionally highjack for important business purposes) and located Ashley from Cleveland.  I sent her a message with my contact information and offered to mail the painting back to her.  No word from her yet.  Is she possibly the only person who doesn't access Facebook from her smart phone?

Here's my deadline – if she doesn't contact me by next Thursday, January 24th, I'm going to offer the painting (and free shipping) to a lucky blog reader who needs a new piece of art for their wall.  The frame unfortunately is staying with me, but the piece is a canvas wrapped board and would be nice for framing or simply setting on a shelf.

If you're out there Ashley Gish...I hope you would like to be reunited with your painting (unless of course you're the one who brought it to the thrift store...I sure hope your Mom didn't).  Otherwise, just know that I will be passing your art on in an "Art if Forward" and your County Fair Glory Days will live on forever on the heart and wall of America.