Art
7 ways to enjoy art outdoors before summer's over – CBC.ca
If you feel like hitting an art gallery, strap on a mask and go for it. Plenty of spots across Canada have started welcoming visitors back — but sure as your hands are raw from Purell, wandering a white cube’s not for everyone right now. Maybe you’re risk-averse. Or maybe you just love some Vitamin D. It’s still summer, dammit. And if the sun’s shining, you want to be out there.
But there’s a way to get a hit of culture with all that fresh air, and throughout the country, there are loads of options to explore. Here are some ideas to kick-start your plans.
Self-guided tours with a curator’s seal of approval
Sure, you could just wander in the direction of your favourite big, odd public art thing. But if you’re lucky, someone in your community’s already crafted a curated, self-guided tour that’ll turn an aimless summer walk into a proper adventure.
The Vancouver Biennial’s “BIKEnnale/WALKennale” program is a particularly impressive example. For a small fee ($5 for individuals, $15 for groups), they’ll hand over 18 maps — self-guided itineraries that lead to some of the city’s top points of cultural interest. There’s an app (obviously), which’ll help you avoid getting lost en route to, say, Maskull Lasserre’s Acoustic Anvil. (GPS FTW.) And while the guides are technically yours to try whenever, if you register before Aug. 30, there are extra perks to enjoy, including free bike-share passes.
Like the Vancouver Biennial, Art Public Montreal offers an extensive assortment of digital art maps. Whether you’re getting around by foot, bike or electronic hoverboard thing-ee, the website lets you browse your options by theme, trip length and location, among other helpful categories.
And in Edmonton, Art Tour YEG has four curated tours that can be accessed via Google Maps. Just like the art, the service is totally free, and according to their website, there’s an old-timey print version, too. (Visit City Hall for a copy.) If their itineraries aren’t exhaustive enough, there are always these art-park recos from the local CBC newsroom.
Tours with real, live human guides
They exist!
Not every tour operator is back up and running, but embrace the staycation vibes and reach out to a company near you for info. This Montreal outfit says they offer “COVID-friendly” tours of the city’s murals, and the Toronto chapter of Tour Guys does daily 4 p.m. trips through Queen Street West and Graffiti Alley. (Guests must book their tour the day before, and according to a company rep, group sizes are capped at 15.)
Build your own itinerary
Maybe you’re an independent spirit … who really, really loves homework. So many Canadian cities have websites dedicated to their public art collections. This list is nowhere near exhaustive, but to give you a notion, let’s just rattle off a bunch of links: Victoria; Kamloops, B.C., Calgary, Saskatoon, Ottawa, Fredericton, Toronto. (There’s even a whole separate database for Toronto’s street art.)
Fire up Google Maps and go.
Galleries that aren’t galleries
If you’re in downtown Victoria, the Commercial Alley Art Gallery is one quick point of interest. Effectively a brick wall turned solo exhibition space, local artists are the focus, with the featured talent switching over every year.
Galerie Blanc in Montreal is a more super-sized version of the open-air concept — or “open-sky,” to use their term. A maze of white walls occupying 8,000 square feet, this free Sainte-Catherine St. attraction is open 24/7. Now showing: work by Christto & Andrew, Noah Kalina, Genevieve Gaignard, Maya Fuhr and Alexandre Berthiaume.
And come the fall, another outdoor gallery will pop up elsewhere in Montreal. Artch, an annual showcase for emerging artists, runs Sept. 9 to 13 at Dorchester Square.
August 29, a brand new arts venue called Lowlands Project Space will open in Edmonton, and they’re marking the occasion with an outdoor exhibition called Castles of Butter. It’s just a one-day deal, so visitors have until 10 that night to catch the show.
(Totally DIY) galleries that aren’t galleries
People were art-ifying their neighbourhoods long before COVID. (Check out Kal Barteski’s Polar Bear Alley in Winnipeg, for instance.) But the pandemic’s prompted more folks to launch their own pop-up galleries. Fences are standing in for white walls in Winnipeg and Regina. And in Twillingate, NL, yarnbomber Nina Elliott (a.k.a. The Rock Vandal) has blitzed the place with so much textile art she’s calling it “Newfoundland’s first outdoor art gallery.”
Sculpture parks
Or go a more traditional route, and enjoy the outdoor exhibitions at an institution like the Art Gallery of Guelph. Their Donald Forster Sculpture Park is the largest of any public gallery in Canada. Stroll among pieces by Evan Penny and FASTWÜRMS. Maybe even try their official scavenger hunt. Admission’s free, and if you’re a Toronto staycationer, it’s a very doable day trip.
Same goes for several other contemporary-art sculpture parks, like the Oeno Gallery (Prince Edward County) and the Haliburton Sculpture Forest.
The Ivan Eyre Sculpture Garden at the McMichael Canadian Art Collection is yet another example, and the museum’s been bringing some of its programming outdoors. (Meditation/painting workshop, anyone?)
Festivals
The options are few, and public safety protocols are in effect, but the pandemic hasn’t completely squashed festival season. In Montreal, artists are painting live in the streets as part of Mtl en Arts. (The event’s been presenting mobile “mini murals” in the Gay Village since July; the festival wraps Sept. 13.)
Calgary’s Bump Festival is another opportunity to watch mural artists at work. Maps and performance schedules are on the website. (DJs are playing a few key painting sites.)
For a more outdoorsy experience, the Sound Travels Festival of Sound Art runs to Sept. 21 on the grounds of the NAISA North Media Arts Centre in South River, Ont. The installations will change over the course of the festival. (Matt Rogalsky’s Octet, which broadcast birdsong recordings from the trees, wrapped Aug. 17, for example.) Imagine a nature walk curated by experimental artists.
Or explore outdoor art without leaving your car. Nuit Blanche Regina will be lighting up a patch of downtown this Saturday, Aug. 29, with a free event called Art Night. Featuring eight artist projects, it’s designed to be a drive-by experience, and runs from 8 p.m. to midnight.
Art
Calvin Lucyshyn: Vancouver Island Art Dealer Faces Fraud Charges After Police Seize Millions in Artwork
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
[unable to retrieve full-text content]
Ukrainian sells art in Essex while stuck in a warzone BBC.com
Source link
Art
Somerset House Fire: Courtauld Gallery Reopens, Rest of Landmark Closed
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.
-
Sports12 hours ago
Dolphins will bring in another quarterback, while Tagovailoa deals with concussion
-
Sports13 hours ago
David Beckham among soccer dignitaries attending ex-England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson’s funeral
-
News13 hours ago
Vancouver Whitecaps cautious of lowly San Jose Earthquakes
-
News12 hours ago
Unifor says workers at Walmart warehouse in Mississauga, Ont., vote to join union
-
Sports21 hours ago
Canada’s Marina Stakusic advances to quarterfinals at Guadalajara Open
-
Sports21 hours ago
David Lipsky shoots 65 to take 1st-round lead at Silverado in FedEx Cup Fall opener
-
Sports21 hours ago
Alouettes receiver Philpot announces he’ll be out for the rest of season
-
News13 hours ago
Alberta town adopts new resident code of conduct to address staff safety