!949: American GIs become Art Students in San Miguel de Allende

I have just started a search for a mural that my Uncle John Lynch and his friend, Ray Rice painted in 1949 in San Miguel de Allende. I have made contact with some people interested in the history of American artists in San Miguel. It is a great story, which perhaps I can get into a book at some time. Here is the best piece of evidence I have. I also have some drawings that he produced.

My Friend Beverly on Facebook: Help me out. Let's catch this scammer!

This post is only marginally related to art, but it will inform you not to trust everything that happens on Facebook. Yesterday I had a friend request from my friend, Beverly, also an artist. Of course, I accepted, but then she started texting me. "How are you doing?" "What's new?" and finally "Did you hear that Steve Case was giving out grants to those who use Facebook?" "I got one.", she said. She also said that she saw my name on the roster of those who would get awards. She said that someone actually delivered money to her, after she paid the delivery fee. I said, "Berverly, if I didn't know you and trust you, I would have thought that this is a scam." She gave me a link on facebook to check and see if I actually had an award. I was suppose to friend the person, then ask if I was on the list.

I went to the website. It looked like a Senator or politician's website- a handsome Black woman with an American flag in the background. Her name was supposedly Patricia Bennette. She said that I had to fill out the form and she would check. Name, address, phone number, marital status, age, and income. I filled it out and of course I was on the awards list. I was entitled to $100,000 and it would just take a $1500 processing fee to receive it.

Once that happened all kinds of bells and whistles went off in my head. They screamed "SCAM, SCAM, SCAM!!!" I called up Beverly and got her husband, who said that two other people had called him up, and no, he was sure that Beverly was not involved in any of this. I went back to my computer to report the scam to Facebook. As I was reporting it, "Patricia Bennett" asked if I was still there. I saw this as an opportunity to keep her on the line as long as I could, while Facebook checked out the conversation (who knows if they ever did?) and also to try and collect as much information as I could.

I kept a transcript of our conversation, but I will not bore you. She gave me an address to send the money to. I will give you that address in case we have any sleuths here: JOHNSON GREG ANTHONY...ADDRESS: 1340 RIO BONITO ROAD APART 201 HOUSTON, TX 77083" and yes, it is bizarrely written. I said that my friend told me that they would come to the door. I tried to keep leading them on. I said that I had the cash. But I had to leave and get ready for work. Sure enough I got a text message from phone number text from Texas: 832- 422- 6604. Try it. I googled the phone number and it came up with a very strange link, but the exact phone number there. "BRYNN TILLERY Solana Beach, California 832-422-6604 8324226604 832-4226604 832 422 6604. ALEX FORE Roxboro, North Carolina 313-738-2376  ..."

The link brought me to a list of names and some kind of bogus dating site: Gorgeous CARRY - Industrial Science
www.industrial-science.com/627.html Try it.

The last thing that I did was report all of this to the Houston Police Department. I have not heard back.

All right. I will give you a relaxing piece of art to take you mind off of this, unless you would like to follow the leads. Let me know what your find.

California Mustard

Something outstanding about Spring in Northern California is the California mustard fields. I think especially of the broad fields of bright yellow mustard flowers as one drives along one of any number of roads to the coast from Marin to Medocino County. Inspired by the display of these flowers I created a small piece of acrylic on thick watercolor paper.