This is Mistletoe Market’s last week at the Rollin Art Centre.
Mistletoe Market showcases the amazing talent in the Valley, featuring all local artists, artisans and crafters. You will find something for everyone on your list: pottery, jewellery, scarves, photographs, original paintings, glass works, quilted stockings, holiday cards, ornaments and much more.
Mistletoe Market runs until Dec. 21. Gallery hours are Tuesday to Saturday, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. We are located at the corner of Argyle Street and Eighth Avenue. We are also wheelchair accessible.
HOLIDAY EXTENDED HOURS
The Rollin Art Centre will remain open late on Friday, Dec. 20 from 11 a.m. – 8 p.m. Enjoy some holiday shopping in our gift shop and gallery.
WINTER CLOSURE
The Rollin Art Centre will be closed starting Dec. 24 and will re-open Jan. 14 for our annual Winter Maintenance closure. We will re-open with a new art exhibit featuring photographs by Courtney Naesgaard and John Douglas from Jan. 15 – Feb. 8.
LAST KRAFT DAY
This is your last chance to join us at the Rollin Art Centre for an afternoon of Christmas krafts.
If you are between the ages of 7 and 13 and you are looking for a fun way to spend a Saturday afternoon, then join us for Krafty Kids Korner on Saturday from 1-3 p.m. Create some fun memories and crafts relating to Christmas.
No registration is required—just come on by. The cost is $15.
BOOK DONATIONS NOW ACCEPTED
The Community Arts Council is now accepting all gently used books for our giant book sale in May. Usually we don’t take them until February, so if you’re cleaning out your reading materials, now is a great time to make room for new ones by donating all those books to the Rollin Art Centre. Books can be dropped off Tuesday to Saturday, 11 a.m. – 4 p.m.
WINTER WONDER BANDS
Enjoy an evening of holiday music performed by the AV Community Band, Harbour City Big Band, ADSS R&B Band, and the 50+ member ADSS Choral Band on Wednesday, Dec. 18 at 7 p.m.
Admission is by donation with proceeds to “Kuu-us Crisis Line Society” to support youth in our community during what can be a hard time for families. A silent auction, with items created by the ADSS Art Department, will also be held. Proceeds go to Kuu-us Society, as well.
HOLIDAY SPOKEN WORD EVENT
A special holiday spoken word event will mark the end of the year for Alberni Valley Words on Fire on Thursday, Dec. 19 at 7 p.m. at Char’s Landing (4815 Argyle St.).
Kris Patterson will be the featured speaker. Patterson is an award-winning author and columnist with a passion for community and local history. His popular series of local history books helps keep the conversation of his community’s history alive.
Admission is a suggested $10 donation in lieu of hall rental. Char’s is kid-friendly. Ages 19+ and accompanied children are welcome.
ARTS FUNDRAISER
Enjoy a Winter Solstice Dance Party fundrasier at Char’s Landing on Saturday, Dec. 21 at 7 p.m. Dance to Mystic Groove Band & Cool House Tunes. All proceeds go to Char’s Landing and Alberni Art Rave.
Tickets are $10 and are on sale now by phone (778-421-2427) at the Rollin Art Centre and Gayle’s Fashions (cash only) or online (brownpapertickets.com).
BANNER PAINTING PROJECT
The Arrowsmith Rotary Club’s annual banner painting at Glenwood Centre will begin Feb. 6. Registration forms are now available at the Rollin Art Centre. The deadline to register is January 29. The cost is $35 to paint and keep your banner after they are taken down, or $10 just to paint a banner.
The Heart of Winter Group Exhibit runs through Feb. 21. All are welcome to mix and mingle whilst enjoying seasonal refreshments at the opening reception on Jan. 10 from 6-8 p.m.
Visit us online at www.drawgallery.com and at the corner of Melrose Street and Eighth Avenue. We’re open Tuesday through Friday, 12-5 p.m., and by appointment. Call 855-755-0566.
CALL TO ARTISTS
Reflect, Consider, Study, Contemplate. The second Biennial Vancouver Island Artist Juried Art Show at the Alberni Valley Museum will take place June 26-Sept. 12, 2020. The submission deadline is April 17. Follow us on Facebook: ReflectShow2020. Primary indications of interest or questions can be sent to reflectshow2020@gmail.com. Attn: Robert Gunn or Chris Doman.
Melissa Martin is the Arts Administrator for the Community Arts Council, at the Rollin Art Centre and writes for the Alberni Valley News. Call 250-724-3412. Email: communityarts@shaw.ca.
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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.
