Art

Public division over Israel-Hamas war spills into the arts world

Published

10 months ago

November 17, 2023

A protester holding a sign saying ‘SCOTIABANK FUNDS GENOCIDE’ is escorted off the stage during the Scotiabank Giller Prize in Toronto, on Nov. 13.Rob Gillies/The Associated Press

Disruptions at two recent awards galas have pushed public division over the Israel-Hamas war into the arts world, a sector long considered at the forefront of challenging those in power, but which also depends on money from the powerful that artists wish to hold to account.

When protesters climbed the stage at Monday’s Scotiabank Giller Prize gala holding signs reading “Scotiabank Funds Genocide,” some members of the audience booed, while others walked out as the protesters were escorted from the room. And before Wednesday’s U.S. National Book Award ceremony, sponsor Zibby Media withdrew after hearing that many finalists would declare their opposition at the event for Israel’s assault on Gaza – as 20 authors went on to do.

Since the Giller protest, which protesters and artists alike have said referred to the bank’s $500-million stake in the Israeli arms company Elbit Systems Ltd., three people in their early-to-mid 20s have been arrested. The charges included obstructing or interfering with the lawful use, enjoyment or operation of property.

More than 1,500 people, largely authors and members of the publishing industry, have since signed an open letter calling for the charges to be dropped, supporting a ceasefire, and to “ask that our institutions treat Palestinian civilians with the same concern and humanity” as the more than 1,000 Israelis who have been killed or injured and the 220 captured in Hamas’s Oct. 7 attack.

The Giller is Canada’s most prestigious fiction prize, and the signatories include Monday’s winner Sarah Bernstein, past winners Omar El Akkad and Sean Michaels, and former jury members including Casey Plett and Waubgeshig Rice.

Mr. El Akkad won the 2021 Giller for his novel What Strange Paradise. In an interview, he said that he signed not out of frustration with the prize, “which has quite obviously changed the entire trajectory of my career,” or its organizers. “This is about my firm belief that dissent is a fundamental aspect of art. If we’re going to celebrate it on the page but condemn it in real life, then we’re not engaged in literature – we’re engaged in role-play.”

In a statement, Giller executive director Elana Rabinovitch said that the protesters had shown “disrespect to Canadian authors, and their literary achievements that were made throughout the year.”

But the novelist Farzana Doctor, who was one of the letter’s authors, told The Globe and Mail that it “was important to me, and to all of us who signed the letter, to express that we do not feel it was disrespectful. … The disruption was uncomfortable, but over 12,000 people in Gaza have been killed in the last six weeks; as artists, as humans, we need to listen.”

November is a high season for arts and literature awards. The Sobey Art Award will be handed out on Saturday at the National Gallery of Canada in Ottawa, and the Writers’ Trust of Canada will unveil numerous annual prize winners next Tuesday in Toronto.

Asked how they might respond to any similar protests, the Writers’ Trust declined to comment, while National Gallery spokesperson Josée-Britanie Mallet said that “as always,” it would take “necessary precautions to ensure the safety of its guests.”

The 2023 Booker Prize, chaired by two-time Giller winner Esi Edugyan, will be handed out Nov. 26 in London. Ms. Bernstein’s Study for Obedience, which won this year’s Giller Prize, is also a finalist. A Booker spokesperson did not respond to a request for comment about anticipating protests.

At the U.S. National Book Awards last Thursday, 20 finalists took the stage to declare their opposition for Israel’s assault on Gaza and to call for a ceasefire, “to address the urgent humanitarian needs of Palestinian civilians, particularly children,” finalist Aaliyah Bilal said.

The statement came after publisher Zibby Media pulled its sponsorship of the awards after its chief executive said she got wind of the authors’ plans to, in her words, “promote a pro-Palestinian, anti-Israeli agenda.” (Another sponsor, Book of the Month, opted not to attend.)

Corporate sponsorships help grease the wheels of the arts, especially in Canada, and corporate-sponsored awards have long been the norm: “As working artists, we are reliant on these institutions for our livelihood,” the open letter states.

Scotiabank declined to comment directly on the Giller protest, and said in a statement that the Elbit stake was part of a number of funds managed by its subsidiary 1832 Asset Management that it has purchased on the secondary market since 2013. Pro-Palestinian demonstrators also staged a sit-in at the company’s Toronto headquarters Friday.

Ms. Plett, the 2022 Giller jury chair and a past nominee for her short-story collection A Dream of a Woman, told The Globe that “The choice for individual artists is always (if they’re lucky enough to make such decisions) to what degree they want to play ball with those power-and-money-holders to further their careers and work.”

While Scotiabank’s investment in Elbit means that “stakes are heavier,” Ms. Plett said, she added there may be little way to resolve that tension. And, Ms. Plett added, “Knowing these galas, it sounds like attendees were, at best, mildly inconvenienced by the protesters. I can’t muster much sympathy for anyone who thinks the right reaction is to throw those protesters in jail.”

Mr. Michaels, who won the 2014 Giller for Us Conductors, said in an e-mail that, “As a novelist, a Jew, a mere human being, I still try to find a way to hold competing thoughts at the same time: abhorrence for atrocities committed by both Hamas and the state of Israel; solidarity with activists protesting the banks that fund weapons-makers; deep concern over rising antisemitism and Islamophobia; a desire for peace and freedom in Palestine/Israel; and also support and appreciation for [Giller organizers] the Rabinovitch family, who are ardent, generous and have always strived to do the right thing. We can disagree without hating one another.”

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Art

Calvin Lucyshyn: Vancouver Island Art Dealer Faces Fraud Charges After Police Seize Millions in Artwork

Published

6 days ago

September 13, 2024

Harry Miller

In a case that has sent shockwaves through the Vancouver Island art community, a local art dealer has been charged with one count of fraud over $5,000. Calvin Lucyshyn, the former operator of the now-closed Winchester Galleries in Oak Bay, faces the charge after police seized hundreds of artworks, valued in the tens of millions of dollars, from various storage sites in the Greater Victoria area.

Alleged Fraud Scheme

Police allege that Lucyshyn had been taking valuable art from members of the public under the guise of appraising or consigning the pieces for sale, only to cut off all communication with the owners. This investigation began in April 2022, when police received a complaint from an individual who had provided four paintings to Lucyshyn, including three works by renowned British Columbia artist Emily Carr, and had not received any updates on their sale.

Further investigation by the Saanich Police Department revealed that this was not an isolated incident. Detectives found other alleged victims who had similar experiences with Winchester Galleries, leading police to execute search warrants at three separate storage locations across Greater Victoria.

Massive Seizure of Artworks

In what has become one of the largest art fraud investigations in recent Canadian history, authorities seized approximately 1,100 pieces of art, including more than 600 pieces from a storage site in Saanich, over 300 in Langford, and more than 100 in Oak Bay. Some of the more valuable pieces, according to police, were estimated to be worth $85,000 each.

Lucyshyn was arrested on April 21, 2022, but was later released from custody. In May 2024, a fraud charge was formally laid against him.

Artwork Returned, but Some Remain Unclaimed

In a statement released on Monday, the Saanich Police Department confirmed that 1,050 of the seized artworks have been returned to their rightful owners. However, several pieces remain unclaimed, and police continue their efforts to track down the owners of these works.

Court Proceedings Ongoing

The criminal charge against Lucyshyn has not yet been tested in court, and he has publicly stated his intention to defend himself against any pending allegations. His next court appearance is scheduled for September 10, 2024.

Impact on the Local Art Community

The news of Lucyshyn’s alleged fraud has deeply affected Vancouver Island’s art community, particularly collectors, galleries, and artists who may have been impacted by the gallery’s operations. With high-value pieces from artists like Emily Carr involved, the case underscores the vulnerabilities that can exist in art transactions.

For many art collectors, the investigation has raised concerns about the potential for fraud in the art world, particularly when it comes to dealing with private galleries and dealers. The seizure of such a vast collection of artworks has also led to questions about the management and oversight of valuable art pieces, as well as the importance of transparency and trust in the industry.

As the case continues to unfold in court, it will likely serve as a cautionary tale for collectors and galleries alike, highlighting the need for due diligence in the sale and appraisal of high-value artworks.

While much of the seized artwork has been returned, the full scale of the alleged fraud is still being unraveled. Lucyshyn’s upcoming court appearances will be closely watched, not only by the legal community but also by the wider art world, as it navigates the fallout from one of Canada’s most significant art fraud cases in recent memory.

Art collectors and individuals who believe they may have been affected by this case are encouraged to contact the Saanich Police Department to inquire about any unclaimed pieces. Additionally, the case serves as a reminder for anyone involved in high-value art transactions to work with reputable dealers and to keep thorough documentation of all transactions.

As with any investment, whether in art or other ventures, it is crucial to be cautious and informed. Art fraud can devastate personal collections and finances, but by taking steps to verify authenticity, provenance, and the reputation of dealers, collectors can help safeguard their valuable pieces.

Art

Ukrainian sells art in Essex while stuck in a warzone – BBC.com

Published

2 weeks ago

September 2, 2024

Harry Miller

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Ukrainian sells art in Essex while stuck in a warzone BBC.com

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Art

Somerset House Fire: Courtauld Gallery Reopens, Rest of Landmark Closed

Published

1 month ago

August 18, 2024

Harry Miller

The Courtauld Gallery at Somerset House has reopened its doors to the public after a fire swept through the historic building in central London. While the gallery has resumed operations, the rest of the iconic site remains closed “until further notice.”

On Saturday, approximately 125 firefighters were called to the scene to battle the blaze, which sent smoke billowing across the city. Fortunately, the fire occurred in a part of the building not housing valuable artworks, and no injuries were reported. Authorities are still investigating the cause of the fire.

Despite the disruption, art lovers queued outside the gallery before it reopened at 10:00 BST on Sunday. One visitor expressed his relief, saying, “I was sad to see the fire, but I’m relieved the art is safe.”

The Clark family, visiting London from Washington state, USA, had a unique perspective on the incident. While sightseeing on the London Eye, they watched as firefighters tackled the flames. Paul Clark, accompanied by his wife Jiorgia and their four children, shared their concern for the safety of the artwork inside Somerset House. “It was sad to see,” Mr. Clark told the BBC. As a fan of Vincent Van Gogh, he was particularly relieved to learn that the painter’s famous Self-Portrait with Bandaged Ear had not been affected by the fire.

Blaze in the West Wing

The fire broke out around midday on Saturday in the west wing of Somerset House, a section of the building primarily used for offices and storage. Jonathan Reekie, director of Somerset House Trust, assured the public that “no valuable artefacts or artworks” were located in that part of the building. By Sunday, fire engines were still stationed outside as investigations into the fire’s origin continued.

About Somerset House

Located on the Strand in central London, Somerset House is a prominent arts venue with a rich history dating back to the Georgian era. Built on the site of a former Tudor palace, the complex is known for its iconic courtyard and is home to the Courtauld Gallery. The gallery houses a prestigious collection from the Samuel Courtauld Trust, showcasing masterpieces from the Middle Ages to the 20th century. Among the notable works are pieces by impressionist legends such as Edouard Manet, Claude Monet, Paul Cézanne, and Vincent Van Gogh.

Somerset House regularly hosts cultural exhibitions and public events, including its popular winter ice skating sessions in the courtyard. However, for now, the venue remains partially closed as authorities ensure the safety of the site following the fire.

Art lovers and the Somerset House community can take solace in knowing that the invaluable collection remains unharmed, and the Courtauld Gallery continues to welcome visitors, offering a reprieve amid the disruption.

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