Do you know this painting?

Help me find the lost artist of this twice-stolen painting. Clues and history provided below.

Brief History

In the late 1960's the painting first hung in the Golden Cue Pool Hall. The pool hall was located in the basement of the Hilltop Building on "The Hill" at the corner of 13th & College, Boulder, Colorado.

The Golden Cue was owned at the time by a Denver Mafia hood, nick-named Fast Eddie. During the late sixties and early seventies, Boulder Colorado was a major hub of national and international drug trafficking in the United States.

A central gathering point, the pool hall was a brokerage house of many major drug deals and a lot of famous and infamous people trafficked there. I know because I was there. I lived on the hill in those days and was one of those nefarious individuals.

Living on the streets at the age of sixteen in 1968, I became a player in the criminal underworld. Although it didn't seem criminal to me at the time. Back then it seemed more like a civil revolution that the entire country was going through and our generation was taking over. The Vietnam War protests were at its peak and boiling over into the streets with riots and civil disobedience.

It was also a time of free love, spiritual awareness, and some of the greatest music ever created. I didn't coin the phrase but it was indeed sex, drugs, and rock and roll. A lot of intriguing history to witness and be a part of.

Angry one night after a violent argument with Fast Eddie, I stole the painting in retribution. I have no excuse for any of my poor behavior other than to say I was young and under the influence of several drugs. Most likely cocaine, speed, heroin, marijuana, and LSD. And yes, all of those drugs at the same time.

I've gone through a lot of personal changes since those days and eventually found success as a real estate investor. Ironically, the painting now hangs proudly in the billiard room of my home. I have kept this treasure all of these years as a reminder of my past and how far I have traveled in this life.

I don't consider Fast Eddie to have any claim to this painting even though it was in his possession at the time. Eddie dealt in stolen goods and bragged to me how he had conned many starving students into giving him art work for free. He would give them great promise of profit and fame, only to pocket everything for himself.

Painting Clues
A faint free handed signature that appears to read as H-A-R-T or H-A-S-T. The letter H is looped over the opposing writing slant and could be a combined letter of J and H. This is followed underneath by what appears to be "67". (See photos) This painting was done most probably by a student at the University of Colorado in the late 1960's. Most likely 1966 -1967.

It would please me to meet the artist and reunite them with the work they did so many years ago. The painting's value is only sentimental and I do not wish to give it up. However, it is stolen (twice) and I would like to find some closure for it.

Please forward this web page to any individuals that may recognize the painting or has a connection to the City of Boulder or the University Of Colorado.

I hope someone can help solve this mystery, not only for me but for the artist. A modest reward will be given.

I would also appreciate hearing back from anyone interested in this period of our history and culture. Perhaps we could exchange stories or photographs of the people back in those days.

Copyright 2010 Wrong Crowd Productions