Heist, recovery story of de Kooning painting to be turned into film

SILVER CITY - Sliced from its frame in a secure museum - the University of Arizona Museum of Art in Tucson - the day after Thanksgiving 1985, the world-renowned "Woman-Ochre" by Willem de Kooning was mysteriously discovered three decades later in Cliff. It was found in the longtime home of Jerry and Rita Alter, a recently deceased couple.

Now, 36 years after the infamous art heist, Academy Award-winning writer Mark Monroe and Emmy-nominated director Allison Otto plan to transform the long-standing mystery into a documentary. The film will be produced by Los Angeles-based companies Museum + Crane and nonfiction studio XTR. Roots Productions will also back the project.

"The theft of 'Woman-Ochre' was one of the most intriguing art crimes of a generation," Otto told Variety magazine. "As our team dug deep into the tale, we discovered that the theft itself is just the tip of the iceberg. Beneath the surface lies a perfect storm of eccentric characters, bizarre synchronicities, and outlandish motivations - all of which are drawn together by the irresistible power of 'Woman-Ochre.' We are so honored to partner with XTR to share this quirky, mind-bending tale."

Created in 1955, the abstract expressionist oil painting was donated to U-Arizona in 1957 by Edward Joseph Gallagher Jr., who bought the painting from de Kooning.

The disappearance of "Woman-Ochre" is only half of the epic tale, however. The other half relies on Silver City's Manzanita Ridge Furniture and Antiques owners Rick Johnson, Buck Burns and David Van Auker, who purchased the Alters' estate and found the painting hanging behind the late couple's bedroom door.

"It was one of those 'I think I'm dreaming' moments," Van Auker said. "It was really a shock. Prior to having our store, we were antique dealers, and every single antique dealer around the world has the fantasy of doing exactly this. This is something you fantasize about your entire career, and here it is - not only did you find this very valuable object, it's a part of history."

As expected, the entire experience has attracted loads of interested people to Manzanita Ridge in two major spurts: one after the painting was found, and the other after it was sent to the J. Paul Getty Museum for restoration. Van Auker expects a third surge when the documentary is unveiled.

"It's a great platform to add a little polish to an already-gleaming Grant County," Burns said. "There was so much great coverage for our community when this all started - it would be great for our communities to benefit from this story. We had tourists from all over the world come here, not just to Manzanita Ridge but also to Silver City and surrounding areas. It would be great to be used as a positive reflection for what our community is about. It's awesome and amazing that we get to be part of this place, and part of a great story."

While the Manzanita Ridge owners are thrilled to be a part of history in the making and to witness the transformation of a major personal event into a film, Van Auker was informed that if this documentary "got the backing they hoped - which they now have - to make it a major (release), they are going to use this as a springboard to make an actual movie."

This sparked a few controversial feelings for Van Auker, who said he thinks a great movie could be made and Hollywood could be interested, but "New Mexico has a huge film industry that's growing by leaps and bounds.

"We have all of it - producers, soundstages and the scenery - so why are we letting out-of-state people do this movie?" Van Auker said. "I don't understand it, because if Hollywood is majorly interested in this, then why isn't our own state? It just blows me away. It's right here in our own state, and if they make a movie, they probably won't even film it in New Mexico. It just shocks me."

The idea for a major motion picture has not been finalized, but the documentary is in the works, with no official release date announced. "It is a fascinating story, and the only people that know the whole story, from our perspectives, are the three of us here at Manzanita Ridge," Burns said.