Your home is your castle, and they say the artwork you display represents who you are.
If you want to shop for art and support a local business, then Artifact in Cold Spring is your kind of place. It is an art gallery with a wide variety of home décor items created by local artists.
Matt Meyung owns the business. His interest in art began when he was a child. Meyung submitted artwork to art shows in elementary school and high school. He took every available art class, including ceramics, photography, painting, and jewelry.
After high school, Meyung worked in construction, framing, finished carpentry, and home renovations. He learned woodworking on the job and improved his art skills by watching google videos and doing online research. When Meyung renovated homes, he removed wood from old homes and made furniture and art out of them.
Matt Meyung owns and operates Artifact. Photo by Charles Infosino | LINK nky
Art runs in Meyung’s family. His 21-year-old daughter, Jada Reynolds, is a tattoo artist at Wicked Dragon in Cold Spring.
In 2016, Meyung opened Artifact on East 8th Street in Newport. Five years later, in 2021, he relocated the business to Newport on the Levee for six months. In April 2022, Meyung moved Artifact to its current location at 355 Crossroad Boulevard in Cold Spring.
Why did he name the business artifact?
“An artifact is an object made by a human being — typically an item of cultural or historic interest. It doesn’t necessarily pertain to art but it could. It could be an antique piece of artwork,” Meyung said. “That was the play on the word ‘Artifact.’ It’s a simple name but it’s kind of cool.”
Artifact sells artworks from 40 local artists – including Meyung. The gallery vends antiques, backpacks, bottle openers, ceramics, clothes, coasters, cutting boards, homemade soaps, jewelry, key chains, paintings, photography, portraits, prints, purses, sweaters, tables, t-shirts, woodwork, and more.
Artifact sells a wide variety of art forms. Photo by Charles Infosino | LINK nky
The gallery offers prints, portraits, and other forms of Star Wars art.
“I normally stock Star Wars art. Star Wars stuff sells really well,” Meyung said.
Three local artists, Meyung, Adam Lusso, and Mike Maydak, create Star Wars art. Meyung’s Star Wars art includes depictions of Darth Vader and Boba Fett. He also does engravings and electric burn scenes. Lusso’s works include portraits of Darth Vader, Han Solo, Luke Skywalker, and Princess Leia Organa. Maydak’s products include prints of Star Wars characters from “The Mandalorian” and others.
Three local artists produce Star Wars-inspired art. Photo by Charles Infosino | LINK nky
Artifact’s horror prints include Aquaman with Jaws, Count Dracula, Creature from the Black Lagoon, Frankenstein, Mike Meyers, Pennywise the Dancing Clown from It, Tales from the Crypt, and the Bride of Frankenstein.
Some of Artifact’s prints are unusual, such as this one that depicts Jaws approaching Aquaman. Photo by Charles Infosino | LINK nky
The gallery sells Marvel art prints such as Deadpool, Dr. Doom, Iron Man, Nightcrawler, and Wolverine. It also offers Doctor Who, Edward Scissorhands, and other themed prints.
Anisha Sanghani creates portraits of Frida Kahlo. Adam Lusso produces portraits of Marilyn Monroe. There are many other themed artworks, too, such as “Adventure Time,” Godzilla, Jerry Garcia, “Rick and Morty,” The Beatles, the Cincinnati Bengals, “The Jetsons,” “The Muppets,” the Cincinnati Reds, and the University of Kentucky.
Some of Artifact’s offerings feature pop icons, such as Frida Kahlo and Marilyn Monroe. Photo by Charles Infosino | LINK nky
Artifact offers Native American items such as arrowheads and dream catchers. It also sells Native American-inspired art such as portraits featuring deer, foxes, owls, wolves, and themes such as a Native American on a horse.
“I always had a fascination with Native American and Southwestern cultures,” Meyung said.
Meyung creates artwork, furniture, and custom signs. He has an onsite workshop at Artifact with storage and a CNC router mill to make custom signs. He also welds, frames, paints, and makes furniture. Meyung sells bourbon barrels and makes bourbon barrel furniture, such as tables.
Patrons can purchase bourbon barrels and order custom-made furniture made out of bourbon barrels at Artifact. Photo by Charles Infosino | LINK nky
In addition to Artifact, Meyung has made bars and tables for several different breweries in Cincinnati – and did the woodwork remodeling for Kung Food Amerasia in Covington. Meyung also promotes music and arranges vendors and artists for events.
He also sells his products at several events, ranging from music festivals to local craft markets, throughout the year. Some of his biggest shows include Kentucky Wool Festival and Healing Appalachia Music Festival.
“My passion is artwork and woodwork. Artifact was created not only as a studio and gallery for my work but a unique gallery to share local art in general. I allow any artists to submit work to be sold,” Meyung said. “With over 40 local artists, we have something unique for everyone. Whether you’re into a custom or family portrait, one of our artists can work with your vision.”
If you go:
Artifact 355 Crossroad Boulevard, Cold Spring 859-803-1759 https://www.facebook.com/artifactnky Hours: They are open Wednesday through Saturday from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m.
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.
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.
