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Swanson: Basketball as art – make it your masterpiece – OCRegister

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7 months ago

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JuJu Watkins hit me with this pretty little crossover of an analogy a couple of months ago and I still haven’t recovered: “I try to be an artist, I try to be,” USC’s breakout star said. “Because I honestly think basketball’s a form of art.”

I’ve been looking at basketball differently since, enjoying my own private trip through the world’s b-ball museum – which is not to say I wasn’t admiring players’ on-court artistry before. Paul George’s liquid fluidity and Giannis Antetokounmpo’s Greek godlike strength. Steph Curry’s pregame circus shooting routines and the sequels upon sequels of LeBron James’ scary movie chase-downs, horrifying to somebody each time – cinema!

Nikola Jokic’s prescient genius: The basketball savant here to haunt the New Orleans Pelicans / Passing it over his head, rocking the defenders to bed / Just a dream of a dime, settin’ up A-aron, who’s too strong.

Those aren’t lyrics to a song, not lines of a poem. Not technically, at least. Though, to me, they are part of an ever-evolving exhibition reflecting how the artistry of basketball inspires the artistry of basketball.

Beau Estes

“NBA’s Top 10 Plays Of The Night,” Jan. 12, 2024

Freestyle verse (NBA.com)

That dreamy Jokic call of Estes’ accompanied the chart-topping play on a Friday edition of the NBA’s highlight countdown, a segment he calls a “big scoop of basketball ice cream at the end of the night.” You can find the veteran sports broadcaster – nicknamed the “Goatmentator” by his fans – and his popular NBA.com segment online or during in-game breaks the next day on NBA League Pass.

Personally, I could listen to Estes’ free verse – “at 6, Jalen (Williams) settin’ sailin’, and straight impalin’ the Denver Nuggets” – all day. And we’ll come back to a performance of his soon, I promise, but I also have to show you this other exhibit I love.

Dave Severns

Hoop of the Day, 2017-

Photography (Twitter … or X or whatever)

Every morning for the past seven years, Severns has added another installment, another photo of a basketball hoop captured in the wild. Daily posts – his “one contribution to social media,” he says – are the product of 40-plus years involved in the game, as a player, coach, scout, bona fide (lower-case) globetrotter. Many of these snapshots of these cylinders are his, but some are contributions from family, friends or followers, and they’re all perfect.

It seems to me that no matter where in the world you plant a basketball hoop, it’s at home. It fits. It’s an invitation. For one, for all. Sure, soccer has the rights to “the beautiful game,” but scroll through Severns’ posts and tell me Mother Nature wasn’t inspired when she gave us the basketball hoop – as right at a park in Severns’ hometown in Dos Palos in Central California, as it is in Nepal, as it is in a cave in China, as it is in an airport in Indianapolis, where they’re welcoming fans ahead of this week’s NBA All-Star festivities…

“They’re everywhere,” Severns said recently. “Because, other than soccer, basketball is the one sport that all kids everywhere can play.”

Eric Bui

LOLWTFERIC, 2022-ish-

Digital doodles (Instagram)

“Sports fandom is so toxic, the discourse on Twitter is so horrible, I wanted to offer something where it doesn’t need to be that way … I was like, ‘How do I stay positive?’ ‘How do I let sports affect me less?’ A lot of people let sports dictate their mood and personality, and when I was younger, I definitely did. So this is a way to combat that and to channel my creativity. With basketball, I get a daily prompt, and it’s like, how do I make something funny and relevant? How do I put my stamp on it?”

I showed Bui’s illustrations to a couple of little kids who don’t even know ball and they didn’t want to give me back my phone, his images are that fun. And if you watched the game and you’re in on the joke? These uplifting, usually adorable, meme-like contributions to the conversation are like candy. Between Estes’ late-night NBA sundaes and Bui’s drawings, hoop heads could get cavities.

Bui – who went to Alhambra High and Pasadena City College and now works in tech in San Jose – is one of a growing number of artists gaining acclaim for their basketball-inspired work. A few others you’ll find in this wing of my museum include a favorite of Bui’s – nbapaints – as well as Kevin Gold (aka _ohnoes); Jack Perkins (purehoop); Jason Scribner (paintonwood); walkertkl … it keeps going. It’s a really long wing.

But do you see? The sidewalk outside of Crytpo.com Arena is a veritable garden of statues. L.A. is awash in Kobe murals. Basketball style has been pervasive since before I was in middle school – when boys were shaving their heads to be like Mike – and continues with every striking pose by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander or Russell Westbrook at a Met Gala. Oh, and how sneakers have influenced culture – let me count the colorways!

And because I’m a word nerd, I especially love the language of it all. That someone at the top of their field is still “the Michael Jordan of” said field. That we have Marcus Thompson II, who writes bars about Bay-area basketball, and Katie Heindl, who chronicles her basketball feelings in Toronto.

And wordsmiths who improvise as impressively as the players on the floor.

Want to get Clippers fans all on the same page? Ask them about their play-by-play announcer Brian Sieman. Hot damn, that guy’s brilliant.

He once described guard Reggie Jackson as having “the guts of a daylight burglar!” for a daring dunk over the 6-foot-11 Jokic. And Sieman’s Amir Coffey-coffee puns are legendary. They’re bold, they’re smooth and, because he somehow continually squeezes another drop out of the idea, they come with unlimited refills – and please believe, they’re all much better than that.

And then there’s Estes, who grew up rooting for the Lakers in Mission Viejo but lived for many years in Atlanta, and who insists there’s nothing really to see there, where after watching hoops, he sets up in a room in his condo in Burbank and waits for colleagues to email over a shot sheet with the NBA’s top plays on any given night.

It’s just a desk and a chair, a laptop, a microphone, and a day’s worth of inspiration – a Jack Johnson song he heard, say.

Estes will watch the footage through once and start to come up with some loose ideas while he does.

“It’s all just rough in my mind,” he explained the other night after I’d invited myself over to see his one take to believe it. “So now I’ve got to make something happen with all this, right? So let’s see …”

He pushes record and … “we’re startin’ with ‘the Finnisher,’ Lauri Markkanen, a defense diminisher! …” Estes says in his unmistakably bombastic and enthusiastic delivery. “Movin’ along to No. 4, where we always get up off the floor and we give props to Kristaps, so Kristaps hooray, Porzingis can bring this! …

“At No. 1, GG Jackson, goin’ up for the stuff, but the kid didn’t have enough! Look who’s doin’ shot detonations in the constellations – that’s Jarrett, who’s able to ensnare it. Nothin’ but pumpkin for Jarrett Allen, as he lands, at No. 1, on the NBA-dot-commmm topfive!”

Even in that 93-second top five – Feb. 1 featured a light, four-game schedule – there were so many references, so many twists to unpack. Nicknames and song lyrics and vivid imagery, ahoy. “I think it means my brain works weird,” Estes said.

I say it means he’s an artist.

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

Published

6 days ago

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September 13, 2024

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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.

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

Published

2 weeks ago

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September 2, 2024

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

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

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1 month ago

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August 18, 2024

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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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