“The fact that a mall is willing to collaborate with an Indigenous social enterprise is a really good step forward for Truth and Reconciliation,” CIF board chair Diana Frost said. “It shows that you can collaborate with a commercial entity and achieve social goals.
“Truth and Reconciliation is something that we all should care about,” said Frost. “It’s not just an Indigenous problem, when you know a large portion of our population is suffering, we should all care about that.”
This year marks Keevin Rider’s second being involved with the art installation.
His painting is of a mountain scene similar to where he grew up.
He says he consulted with one of his spiritual adivsors about what animals to include.
“I started with the tatonka – the Buffalo – and then from there it went out and then the animals appeared like the eagle, the wolf and the bear.”
Rider says his culture believes that all things have a spirt and when he gets closer to those spirits it helps him heal.
“My parents were residential so it affected me, it’s actually affected my grandchildren,” said Rider. “So you know we have our spirit and we always call our spirit back.”
Flora Johnson, a sixties scoop survivor, was split up from her brothers who were sent to residential schools.
“I may not be completely healed,” said Johnson. “But this is a part of my healing, when I paint, I feel loved, vibrant, I feel it’s just my passion.”
Paintings by eight Calgary Indigenous artists are featured at Southcentre Mall’s centre court in honour of Truth and Reconciliation. Kalum Teke Dan’s painting style is popular with pieces commissioned all over Calgary, but he says it wasn’t always that way.
“30 years ago I couldn’t sell very many pieces,” he said. “People just didn’t understand or didn’t want to know, or they wanted us to be pushed into the corner and not thought about or cared about, so we’re showing them we’re strong, we’re resilient, we’re powerful, we’re here and we’re proud.”
Frost says that since 2017, CIF Reconciliation Society has led the effort to provide opportunities for Indigenous peoples by delivering art-based workshops and events that educate the community and promote healing and reconciliation between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples.
“I’m seeing more and more people interested in finding out about Truth and Reconciliation and supporting Orange Shirt Day by wearing orange shirts,” she said. “It’s nice to see people from all walks of life wanting to contribute.”
Paintings by eight Calgary Indigenous artists are featured at Southcentre Mall’s centre court in honour of Truth and Reconciliation. The works of art are supported by a double-sided activation wall. One side features information about the CIF Reconciliation Society and on the opposite is a canvas for visitors to express their own ideas and visions of reconciliation.
In addition to viewing the art, people can learn about a number of reconciliACTIONS.
Alexandra Velosa is the mall’s marketing manager. She says the actions are practical tips to help foster reconciliation. The signage is placed around the upper balcony on the second level that overlooks centre court and the art installation.
“ReconciliACTION is a key component of our initiative,” said Velosa. “As a community connector, we want people to come here and learn about how they can be a part of the reconciliation, how can they make a difference.”
To learn more about the Colouring It Forward Reconciliation Society you can visit the organization’s website.
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.
