It’s so easy for a kind-hearted remark to be received poorly or for someone to ignore and dismiss it.
Art
Collective Voice: Giving compliments is an art form – Saskatoon StarPhoenix
Grade 9 students in the Collective Voice program at Aden Bowman Collegiate share their lives and opinions through columns. Selected columns usually run on Mondays in The Saskatoon StarPhoenix.
By Andrea S.
Why does giving compliments feel so forced and receiving them feel so awkward?
According to Psychology Today, “There is only one way to receive a compliment — graciously, with a smile.” However, is it really that simple? What if someone’s compliment has a tone, or a message disguised underneath?
Initially I thought that compliments were just simple comments that fill in the space in a conversation. Yet, the more I looked into it, the more I realized it was more complicated. There seems to be an art to receiving and giving compliments. You have to say certain things at certain times; you can’t be “fake,” and it’s almost an expected gesture.
So what is the perfect compliment?
Nick Haslam, a psychology professor at the University of Melbourne, thinks fake compliments have the opposite effects of genuine ones. He talks about how an individual who receives a compliment might feel that the compliment is insincere. This feeling of doubt can counteract the positive effects that were initially intended.
I personally have felt uncomfortable receiving certain compliments. I find it very difficult to interpret the sincerity of a compliment, often leaving me feeling insecure or uncomfortable. Having these feelings made me consider if I’m the only one who feels this way when receiving a compliment.
Do I make people feel this way?
I think that the compliment and the message the person is giving are not the only important aspects. We also have to consider how someone may receive the compliment. It’s so easy for a kind-hearted remark to be received poorly or for someone to ignore and dismiss it.
The factor of self-esteem also plays a big role. Someone with low self-esteem might feel awkward or not know how to accept or react to a compliment. That’s something that I’ve also found difficult to do myself. It’s hard to accept what someone is saying when you don’t believe it yourself.
Even though giving or receiving compliments may seem scary or messy, having good intentions is key.
So are compliments a good thing or could they just lead to more negative outcomes? A study supported by the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science took people and tried different scenarios with different praises. The outcomes were interesting.
The study lead, Professor Norihiro Sadato of the National Institute for Physiological Sciences in Japan, stated that “to the brain, receiving a compliment is as much a social reward as being rewarded money. We’ve been able to find scientific proof that a person performs better when they receive a social reward after completing an exercise. Complimenting someone could become an easy and effective strategy to use in the classroom and during rehabilitation.”
According to Sadato, giving compliments has the potential to provide beneficial effects such as increased performance and positive outcomes. Compliments can be used as an effective positive reinforcement tool.
From what I’ve learned, giving and receiving compliments is overall a great thing. It can increase people’s performance and can make their day. An important thing to remember is not to force compliments or say things you don’t truly believe. A perfect compliment is a kind-hearted one.
Positive and truthful praise can really help someone change their life around.
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Art
A misspelled memorial to the Brontë sisters gets its dots back at last
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.
The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.
Art
Calvin Lucyshyn: Vancouver Island Art Dealer Faces Fraud Charges After Police Seize Millions in Artwork
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.
Art
Ukrainian sells art in Essex while stuck in a warzone – BBC.com
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Ukrainian sells art in Essex while stuck in a warzone BBC.com
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