Drugs Supply Art For Auction

About $100,000 in works of art, seized by federal marshals in drug cases, will be among items auctioned off today.

The 22 pieces seized in a drug raid include a seven-panel pen and ink series on AIDS in Africa by esteemed Boise artist Stephanie Wilde.

Jim Benham, U.S. Marshal for Idaho, said it’s unusual for art work to be captured in Idaho.

“It depends on what the court tells us to seize,” he said.

“This is reasonably rare. Normally, the things that are seized are real property - real estate, houses, cars.”

The auction also will put on the block works from private and corporate collections.

That group of works includes art by Wilde and other Idaho artists such as John Killmaster, Robert Auth, Quinten Gregory and Fred Ochi.

Some 19th century works also are on sale.