The ‘Summer’s Breeze’ mural at the Kinsmen Water Park is one of the installations included in the City of Prince Albert’s new public art tour. In this photo, Jayde WizWon Goodon works on the mural on Sept. 4, 2019. (Peter Lozinski/Daily Herald)
The City of Prince Albert is launching a public art tour to not only embrace the murals and sculptures already on display, but also to encourage more in the future.
The new Public Art & Heritage in the Heart of Prince Albertbrochure walks local residents and tourists through 10 different installations across the city. The tours are primarily self-guided, but you can reach out in advance to arrange a guided tour by former Mann Art Gallery Director/Curator Jesse Campbell.
“The beauty about public art is it’s accessible to all,” said the City’s Arts and Culture Coordinator Judy MacLeod Campbell.
“Everyone has the opportunity to view the art and everyone sees the art differently. I think it’s a way to explore a theme, to explore perhaps an issue sometimes, to learn more about that particular artist.”
Not all of Prince Albert’s public art is included in the tour. It’s focused on the two core areas of the city: Downtown and the Kinsmen Park area.
In the Kinsmen Park area, for example, you’ll find the 2019 mural ‘Summer’s Breeze’ by Jayde Goodon. He’s a Saskatoon-based Métis artist who paints under the name WizWon.
The mural is located at the Kinsmen Water Park along First Avenue West. The piece is of the profile view of woman in front of various designs, including a splash of blue representing water.
The Leo Lachance Memorial is located at the provincial court on 11th Street West. The sculpture was completed in 2001 by Lloyd Pinay. It not only honours Lachance––who was shot and killed by Carney Nerland in Prince Albert in 1991––but also depicts the relationship between Indigenous people and nature.
MacLeod Campbell said the City wanted to start a public art tour for both local residents and tourists. Tourism may be currently lacking because of COVID-19, but she said they’ll likely continue guided tours every spring, summer and early fall.
“For local people, I don’t think we’re always aware of the different public art that we have,” she said.
“And I think with that awareness, we always want to add more. So whether that’s city-led or led by a non-profit arts organization or a business or a new development area that wants to add public art, it certainly enhances and beautifies the city.”
The brochure also lists the city’s art galleries and local restaurants that display artwork, such as the Bison Café and Amy’s on Second. You can view the brochure on the City of Prince Albert’s website.
The idea originated from the Municipal Cultural Action Plan, which includes the Prince Albert Historical Society. It started hosting walking tours from tourist requests.
MacLeod Campbell said that’s one of the initiatives that inspired a public art tour. She’s also gone on public art tours in other communities, such as Saskatoon, and wanted to offer it in Prince Albert.
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.
