City of Toronto and Government of Québec will collaborate to host ArtworxTO symposium “Public Art of Tomorrow” – City of Toronto - toronto.ca | Canada News Media
The City of Toronto and the Government of Québec will host a three-day virtual symposium, focusing on the future of public art in cities. The ArtworxTO symposium “Public Art of Tomorrow” will run from Monday, November 22 to Wednesday, November 24, as part of ArtworxTO: Toronto’s Year of Public Art 2021–2022.
This virtual symposium will celebrate Toronto’s impressive existing public art collection, while discussing the future role of art and artists within urban centres. Keynote speakers, panelists and industry leaders will discuss pandemic recovery and rebuilding — specifically the essential role of the cultural and creative sectors within urban areas.
Public art is at the heart of a city’s development and vitality. By reimagining and animating public spaces, cities can bring people back to plazas, main streets and neighbourhoods that were severely impacted by the pandemic. The integration of public art in communities city-wide connects citizens to their surroundings and assists with the social development and sustainability of the sector.
Building upon the relationship between Toronto and the province of Québec, the symposium will connect arts organizations, industry professionals and businesses from Toronto, Montréal and Québec to work together towards economic recovery. The Content Director of the symposium is MASSIVart and the three-day virtual event will be hosted on Swapcard.
The symposium will include conferences, panels, discussions, artist showcases, an ArtworxTO call for proposal to artists with ties to Ontario and Québec representing the theme “Public Art of Tomorrow” and art displays throughout Toronto that the public may view in-person. Attendees will get to vote on the temporary public artwork that they want to see installed as part of ArtworxTO.
Confirmed symposium speakers include:
Tom Finkelpearl, former Commissioner of the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs
Sara Diamond, President Emerita, OCAD University
Ana Serrano, President & Vice Chancellor, OCAD University
Ashley McKenzie-Barnes, Curator and CCO/Founder, D.PE Agency
Pierre Poussin, artist
Farnoosh Talaee , Director of Mayten’s
Guillaume Aniorté, Partenariat Quartier des spectacles, Montréal
T’uy’t’tanat Cease Wyss, Interdisciplinary artist (Toronto/B.C.)
Participating speakers, artists and industry leaders will be live from all over North America, discussing topics including: “Public Art: A Real Possibility for Social Change?”; “Actions to Take Now for A Better Public Art Future”; “How to Export Canadian Public Art Expertise”; and “Reaching the Community & Citizens Through Public Art”.
The symposium is part of ArtworxTO: Toronto’s Year of Public Art 2021–2022, which kicks off the City’s new 10-Year of Public Art Strategy and signals Toronto’s renewed commitment to public art.
The City’s 10-Year Public Art Strategy is available here
More information about ArtworxTO: Toronto’s Year of Public Art 2021–2022, including an interactive map of the City’s extensive collection of public art, is available here
“Public art continues to play a critical role in the vitality of cities, especially during this period of pandemic recovery and rebuilding. I’m delighted that the City of Toronto and the Government of Québec are partnering through this symposium to discuss the essential role of the cultural and creative sectors within urban areas and to celebrate Toronto’s impressive public art collection.”
– Mayor John Tory
Toronto is home to more than 2.9 million people whose diversity and experiences make this great city Canada’s leading economic engine and one of the world’s most diverse and livable cities. As the fourth largest city in North America, Toronto is a global leader in technology, finance, film, music, culture and innovation, and consistently places at the top of international rankings due to investments championed by its government, residents and businesses. For more information visit the City’s website or follow us on Twitter, Instagram or Facebook.
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.
