Art

‘Harkens back to the Aids quilt’: using art as protest for the trans community

Published

6 months ago

March 26, 2024

Since its inception in 2009, Transgender Day of Visibility – which occurs every year on 31 March – has been a focus point for greater awareness of the challenges faced by transgender people in the United States, as well as a celebration of the community’s strength and diversity. In 2015, for instance, a selfie campaign via social media caught on, drawing in trans celebrities and leading to heightened awareness and understanding of trans people. In 2021, it reached a milestone, as Joe Biden became the first US president to formally recognize the day.

This year, Transgender Day of Visibility falls amid a widespread campaign against the rights of transgender people – with nearly 500 anti-trans bills advanced in 2024 alone, following up on hundreds more bills in previous years, trans people in America now find themselves with restricted access to things like medically necessary healthcare, the ability to participate in sports, the use of crisis shelters, bathrooms, and other essential facilities, and even the right to have proper identification. These actions have led to internal refugees throughout America, with trans people fleeing hostile states for safer ones.

To draw attention to the these developments, as well as to share the joy and beauty of the transgender community, this year, the artist Cassils will partner with the National Center for Transgender Equality to create a massive cyanotype titled Etched in Light on the National Mall in Washington DC. The creation of the piece will occur amid a full day of activities, including a rally by the NCTE to spearhead its TRANSform the Vote campaign, designed to leverage a voting bloc of trans, nonbinary and intersex people and their allies.

For Etched in Light, Cassills will invite over 100 trans and nonbinary individuals onto the surface of a 60ft by 15ft piece of cyanotype-coated muslin. As the participants lay still on the muslin in various poses, the sun’s UV rays will etch their forms into the photographic medium, and then the resultant piece will be washed with water so that the final image will appear before the eyes of spectators. As the work is coming together, three vocalists from the group Blood Is Here will slowly process down cyanotype, singing improvised musical notes. “It really harkens back to the Aids Quilt and die-ins,” Cassills told me in an interview, “and it’s very much a visual that lands itself in the language of protest.”

According to Cassils, the project in part emerged from the reality that, even after the so-called transgender tipping point, representation does not equal rights for the trans community. Realizing that, they searched for ways to represent trans bodies amid a time of heightened danger and violence, eventually arriving at the medium of the cyanotype. They liked that it was one of the earliest forms of photographic representation, and they were also drawn to the fact that it is a process that would require trans bodies to gather together and spend time in physical contact. “I’m thinking about this problem of what it is to be seen when one needs to be protected,” they told me. “It’s about the vulnerability of taking up space, but also about the use of nature to incorporate our bodies into a time and place. It’s a very double-edged kind of thing, being very beautiful but also grounding us in at a certain moment of pain.”

The creation of Etched in Light occurs alongside a celebration of the National Center for Transgender Equality’s TRANSform the Vote campaign. The NCTE made headlines earlier this year for releasing initial results of its US Trans Survey, which it touts as the largest-ever survey of trans people in the United States. According to Josie Caballero, director of voting and elections at NCTE, TRANSform the Vote is meant to build on the engagement created by that survey, and to keep the momentum going.

She told me that TRANSform the Vote intends to demonstrate to politicians that the trans community is an important voting constituency – to that end the NCTE plans a massive voter registration and voting-rights education campaign. Her hope is that mobilizing large groups of trans voters can make enough of a difference in states where harmful legislation is being passed.

“Even in states like Florida, these very toxic bills are only passing by slim margins,” she said. “We can have a lot of power to block these bills. In a lot of these close races we can be the margin of victory.” Caballero also pointed out that trans candidates have been winning in surprising places, where one might not imagine trans people to reach elected office. She pointed to Olivia Hill, who became Tennessee’s first trans elected official when she became part of the Nashville city council in 2023.

Cassils - Human Measure, live performance

“It’s really hard to see every day in the news, more legislation, more tragedy,” she told me. “It fills me with anxiety to know that people are running to reverse the clock on our rights. It underscores the ongoing fight for equality and acceptance.”

For Cassils, who has spent years finding ways to create art that expresses trans freedom in opposition to a political system that they believe has increasingly sought to marginalize trans lives, the idea of mobilizing trans voters feels both counterintuitive and necessary. They noted that, as an immigrant from Canada, they have experienced what it is to be in the US and not have the right to vote, and they also pointed out that many trans Americans can’t participate in the political system because they do not have the proper ID. In spite of that, they still do believe that electoral politics is a viable route for trans people. “I have this romanticization of art and its possibilities,” they said. “I do not have that for our political institutions. But I do think that one can be really strategic, so I think it’s a combination of strategy and envisioning.”

Ultimately, Cassils, who grew up before the advent of the internet and who did not knowingly meet another queer person until the age of 23, finds the idea of creating art in collaboration with their own community to be incredibly meaningful. Since 2016, with the advent of the Trump administration, they have created an ongoing series titled Human Measure that has specifically sought to create community-based art. As a part of this series, Etched in Light will be a powerful experience in of overcoming their own past and of pushing back against the anti-trans tone set by many politicians. “For me, to make these works and bring together hundreds of trans and nonbinary performers, to harness all of our talents – it’s an incredibly healing thing for me.”

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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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