/https://www.thestar.com/content/dam/thestar/life/together/2021/12/05/a-different-booklist-has-brought-to-the-annex-poets-authors-and-art-with-alternative-points-of-view-for-26-years-and-counting/secondary.jpg)
Art
A Different Booklist has brought to the Annex poets, authors and art with alternative points of view for 26 years and counting – Toronto Star
The first time I visited A Different Booklist in early 2004, I heard poetry being performed from the cosy backyard branching off from the main floor of the bookstore. Spoken word-friendly finger-snap applause beckoned me. This is my kind of bookstore, I thought, since I was running a poetry series at the time, and I soon sat down at an open mic hosted by author and event producer Dwayne Morgan.
When A Different Booklist first opened in 1995, on the west side of Bathurst Street just south of Honest Ed’s, its original owner, Wesley Crichlow, may not have envisioned how it would grow from its modest roots into a hub for the Black community.
A Different Booklist has been quarterbacked by the husband-and-wife team of Miguel San Vicente and Itah Sadu since 1998, when Crichlow secured a full-time teaching position, and they continue to stock and promote books reflecting the Black and Caribbean communities, and the African diaspora. They also encourage poets, authors and political scientists to host events at their space, which are often free to the public.
The store relocated to the east side of Bathurst in 2017, after development replaced Honest Ed’s and Mirvish Village. A stroll among the tightly packed bookcases reveals a truly panoramic view of Black history and culture: one section features the work of James Baldwin, Maya Angelou and Roxane Gay; another boasts fiction titles from Toronto authors such as David Chariandy and Catherine Hernandez. The children’s literature section offers such books as “I Love My Hair!” by Natasha Anastasia Tarpley and E.B. Lewis, and “Mixed Me!” by actor Taye Diggs and Shane W. Evans.
“(Young Black readers) are excited when they can see themselves reflected in books, which is not often the case,” San Vicente says. “And we really appreciate how so many schools have bought our books for their students, which has helped us survive all these years.”
/https://www.thestar.com/content/dam/thestar/life/together/2021/12/05/a-different-booklist-has-brought-to-the-annex-poets-authors-and-art-with-alternative-points-of-view-for-26-years-and-counting/a_different_booklist_2.jpg)
For adult readers, San Vicente says the more popular books at his store include Frantz Fanon’s “Black Skin, White Masks,” a 1952 deconstruction of racism, which he says speaks to what Bob Marley called “mental slavery in ‘Redemption Song,’ and how a colonial mentality has affected many Black people.” Another hot seller is Toronto author Afua Cooper’s “The Hanging of Angelique: The Untold Story of Canadian Slavery and the Burning of Old Montreal. There may be books about Canadian slavery written by white people,” San Vicente says, “but it’s important that a Black author shares these important stories.”
A Different Booklist saw a surge of shoppers during and soon after the protests stemming from the murder of George Floyd by a police officer in Minneapolis. “It was great to see so many people coming out, including many non-Black readers, and buying books on fighting discrimination and racism and inequality,” says San Vicente. “And it really helped when the Black Lives Matter movement encouraged people to support Black-owned businesses like ours.”
/https://www.thestar.com/content/dam/thestar/life/together/2021/12/05/a-different-booklist-has-brought-to-the-annex-poets-authors-and-art-with-alternative-points-of-view-for-26-years-and-counting/a_different_booklist.jpg)
The bookstore is also home to A Different Booklist Cultural Centre: The People’s Residence. Launched in 2016, the non-profit organization has held author talks, book launches, children’s programs and art exhibitions.
During lockdown, the store kept the public engaged with virtual readings and interviews, such as a Zoom conversation with George Elliot Clarke, Toronto’s former poet laureate.
In fall 2022, the store is set to move again, this time across the street. Its mission, however, will remain the same. “We want people to learn from the past and to challenge themselves to put their knowledge into action,” San Vincente says. “And our books and programming help with those goals.”
Continue Reading
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.
The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.
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.
[unable to retrieve full-text content]
Ukrainian sells art in Essex while stuck in a warzone BBC.com
Source link
News1 hour ago
Netflix’s subscriber growth slows as gains from password-sharing crackdown subside
News1 hour ago
Promise tracker: What the Saskatchewan Party and NDP pledge to do if they win Oct. 28
News2 hours ago
Bad weather forecast for B.C. election day as record numbers vote in advance polls
Investment5 years ago
dynaCERT Inc. Invites You to Join Us at the Vancouver Resource Investment Conference | INN – Investing News Network
Sports5 years ago
AP source: Bears acquiring quarterback Nick Foles from Jaguars – Sportsnet.ca
Media1 year ago
12 Bizarre Things People Did Just To Make Social Media Content
-
News22 hours agoDefying Convention to Deepen Connections: Booking.com’s 8 Travel Predictions for 2025
-
Sports9 hours ago
In The Rings: Curling Canada still looking for Canadian Curling Trials title sponsor
-
News8 hours ago
After hurricane, with no running water, residents organize to meet a basic need
-
Politics9 hours ago
N.B. election debate: Tory leader forced to defend record on gender policy, housing
-
News9 hours ago
Alberta government shifts continuing care from Health to Seniors Ministry
-
News9 hours ago
Buhai, Green and Shin lead in South Korea after 8-under 64s in first round
-
News9 hours ago
Manitoba government halts school building plan, says other methods will be found
-
News9 hours ago
‘Significant overreach’: Ontario municipalities slam province over bike lane rules
