An Ontario teacher found works of art in the bargain bin. So she set out to find their creator

Sonja Krawesky was browsing through the aisles of a Krazy Binz Liquidation store in Hamilton, Ont., when she stumbled upon something extraordinary last November. Among the array of items in the discount bins, she spotted a bright and beautiful wave-shaped object made of small, painted tiles held together by threads of wire.

Intrigued by the unique find, Krawesky inspected the object and was amazed to find it in pristine condition, free of any dents or scratches. She then discovered another piece with different colors but the same wave shape in a nearby bin. Recognizing that they were not typical discount bin items, Krawesky felt a connection to them and decided to bring them home.

Unsure of what the objects were, Krawesky embarked on a mission to uncover their origins. Meanwhile, thousands of kilometers away in Nova Scotia, artist Sydney Blum was facing a distressing situation. Two of her wavy, fluorescent sculptures had gone missing during transit to a Montreal gallery in early October.

Blum had invested around 300 hours into creating the sculptures, and their disappearance left her devastated. Despite Canada Post’s efforts to locate the missing artworks, they remained untraceable. Eventually, the gallery informed Blum to abandon her search.

Determined not to give up, Blum reached out to various channels, hoping for a miracle to reunite her with her lost sculptures. Meanwhile, Krawesky’s online investigation led her to Blum’s Instagram page, where she found posts detailing the disappearance of the sculptures.

Realizing that she had found the artist behind the objects, Krawesky contacted Blum with the good news. Initially skeptical, Blum verified Krawesky’s identity and was overwhelmed with gratitude for her efforts. With the help of a friend, the sculptures were safely transported back to Blum in Nova Scotia, where they now adorn her studio once again.

The heartwarming tale of Krawesky’s determination to return the lost sculptures to their creator and the subsequent bond formed between the two women is a testament to the kindness and generosity of strangers. Despite the mystery surrounding how the sculptures ended up in the discount bin, the focus remains on the positive impact of human connection and the power of reaching out to help others in need.

As Canada Post continues to investigate the circumstances surrounding the lost sculptures, the story serves as a reminder of the beauty of unexpected friendships and the resilience of the human spirit. Krawesky’s encounter with Blum has not only brought joy and inspiration to her own life during a challenging time but has also highlighted the capacity for compassion and goodwill among individuals.