Art stolen from Christmas market

A Calgary artist is out more than $1,500 after several pieces of her framed pebble art went missing from the Millarville Christmas Market on Nov. 10. When Stix and Stones Pebble Art creator Deb Gibbs returned to her booth the last of the four-day Millarville Christmas Market on Nov. 11, she noticed two boxes of her framed art, consisting of 24 pieces, were missing. She said another six pieces went missing randomly over the weekend. “It’s quite unusual,” she said. “You might lose a couple over a weekend, but this is quite a bit more than is typical. I know for anybody running a business theft is a possibility.” Even more unusual is the effort the culprit(s) went through to take her art, Gibbs said. “It was not visible,” she said. “They would have had to go around my booth and under the table and pull the boxes out. It’s unfortunate.” The pieces sell for $55 each, making it a $1,650 loss for Gibbs. “It’s quite a bit that was lost in sales,” she said. “It’s my only income. This is what I do for a living.” Gibbs, who grew up in the Millarville area and worked for the Foothills School Division about 30 years ago, said she doesn’t want the famed Millarville Christmas Market to get a bad reputation because of the theft. “I’ve contacted the market and they’re very aware and are looking into it,” she said. “There’s many volunteers there and they’re very supportive. It doesn’t reflect on them.” Market executive director Lisa Lloyd said staff members regularly talk to vendors about theft prevention, giving suggestions like installing security cameras in their booths or having extra helpers to keep watch. “Unfortunately it’s a reality, it is something that happens,” Lloyd said. “I think it’s horrible and it can be prevented when there is a stronger visibility in your booth. “At the Christmas market there’s different people out than our regulars. It’s about keeping our eyes open and being very aware of that.” Lloyd said the market hires two security guards to keep watch during the evenings. “We try to take care of things when the market has shut down and people have left,” she said. “During the day people are responsible for manning their own booths. A lot of vendors don’t leave product here. People understand the risks involved in leaving it.” The theft was posted on social media last week, including pictures of the art, in hopes to locate the culprit(s), said Gibbs. “There are a lot of eyes out there for me that are watching to see if they’re being sold online,” she said. “I understand it’s hard times for people right now with our economy the way it is but I’m a little frustrated because I know how many hours I spend creating my art.” Gibbs collects sea glass from beaches and pebbles from riverbeds, and is inspired to create the images – often with written sayings and expressions. “I spend weeks gathering my pieces,” she said. “I work 20 hours a week just gathering from rivers. When I put them together it takes me several hours. The pebbles have to speak to each other and the sea glass has to resonate. There is a story being told within my art.” Gibbs has been creating pebble art for 16 years and has been a vendor at the Millarville Farmers’ Market for 33. “Ultimately I hope that my stolen pictures end up with people that can enjoy the beauty and simplicity of my art,” she said. “That is why I create, for the sharing of smiles and emotions evoked by my pebble art.”