Art

Art Gallery of Greater Victoria hosting one of Canada’s most legendary private collections (CONTEST)

Published

3 months ago

July 3, 2024

If you’re looking for a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to explore one of Canada’s most legendary private collections, this is it.

For a limited time only, the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria will be hosting Generations: The Sobey Family and Canadian Art—the story of one family’s visionary engagement with Canadian and Indigenous art.

Organized and circulated by the McMichael Canadian Art Collection, the much-anticipated exhibition opened on June 29th, and will be on view through October 27th.

“This is an extraordinary opportunity to see some of the best privately owned Canadian art in the world,” said Steven McNeil, AGGV Chief Curator and Director of Collections & Exhibitions.

“The Sobey family have been collecting art for three generations, and the result is a truly overwhelming collection of wonders – filled with over 120 works by some of Canada’s best known and most celebrated artists, including Emily Carr, the Group of Seven and Kent Monkman. The AGGV will be the final stop for this nationally touring exhibition. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity to see these works together.”

The unique art collection has made its way across Canada, with Victoria being its final stop on the national tour, and the only stop in British Columbia.

If you’re looking to check out this incredible collection for yourself, we’ve partnered with Art Gallery of Greater Victoria to give away two admission tickets for Generations PLUS a copy of the hardcover exhibition catalogue—you’ll find those contest details below!

Generations brings together works by early European newcomers like Cornelius Krieghoff; titans of Canadian 20th century art, the Group of Seven, Tom Thomson, David Milne and Emily Carr and a rich display of works by the Quebec Impressionists.

You will also find Automatiste painters Jean Paul Riopelle and Paul- Émile Borduas; and works by trail-blazing artists of today, including contemporary Indigenous artists Kent Monkman, Brenda Draney, Brian Jungen and Annie Pootoogook, as well as leading international artist Peter Doig.

A recurring theme in the exhibition is the North Atlantic, its role in history, and its impact on artists’ imaginations.

Generations: The Sobey Family and Canadian Art is curated by McMichael Canadian Art Collection Executive Director and Chief Curator Sarah Milroy.

A free Public Open House for Generations will be held on Saturday, July 6th from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission will be free all day, thanks to Feel Free, generously supported by TD Bank Group.

(Kent Monkman / Art Gallery of Greater Victoria)

CONTEST

For a chance to win two admission tickets to Generations: The Sobey Family and Canadian Art at the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria plus a copy of the hardcover exhibition catalogue, please do one or more of the following:

LIKE AGGV on Facebook and comment below telling us once you have. (1 entry)
FOLLOW AGGV on Instagram, and comment below telling us once you have. (1 entry)
SHARE this post on X and/or Threads and leave a comment below telling us once you have. (1 entry)

Contest entries will be accepted from the time and date of publishing until 11:59 pm on July 10th. One winner will be chosen at random and contacted through the platform they used to enter.

Contest Guidelines

Generations: The Sobey Family and Canadian Art

Where: 1040 Moss Street
When:
- Monday: Closed
- Tuesday: 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
- Wednesday: 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
- Thursday: 10 a.m. – 9 p.m.
- Friday: 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
- Saturday: 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
- Sunday: 12 p.m. – 5 p.m.
Admission: $15
- Admission is free for AGGV members, those 25 and under, Indigenous Peoples and support workers

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Art

A misspelled memorial to the Brontë sisters gets its dots back at last

Published

6 days ago

September 26, 2024

Anne Joseph

LONDON (AP) — With a few daubs of a paintbrush, the Brontë sisters have got their dots back.

More than eight decades after it was installed, a memorial to the three 19th-century sibling novelists in London’s Westminster Abbey was amended Thursday to restore the diaereses – the two dots over the e in their surname.

The dots — which indicate that the name is pronounced “brontay” rather than “bront” — were omitted when the stone tablet commemorating Charlotte, Emily and Anne was erected in the abbey’s Poets’ Corner in October 1939, just after the outbreak of World War II.

They were restored after Brontë historian Sharon Wright, editor of the Brontë Society Gazette, raised the issue with Dean of Westminster David Hoyle. The abbey asked its stonemason to tap in the dots and its conservator to paint them.

“There’s no paper record for anyone complaining about this or mentioning this, so I just wanted to put it right, really,” Wright said. “These three Yorkshire women deserve their place here, but they also deserve to have their name spelled correctly.”

It’s believed the writers’ Irish father Patrick changed the spelling of his surname from Brunty or Prunty when he went to university in England.

Raised on the wild Yorkshire moors, all three sisters died before they were 40, leaving enduring novels including Charlotte’s “Jane Eyre,” Emily’s “Wuthering Heights” and Anne’s “The Tenant of Wildfell Hall.”

Rebecca Yorke, director of the Brontë Society, welcomed the restoration.

“As the Brontës and their work are loved and respected all over the world, it’s entirely appropriate that their name is spelled correctly on their memorial,” she said.

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Art

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

Published

3 weeks 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.