The municipality is looking to bring more public art to the city over the next decade, while helping to support local artists and community members in the process.
City politicians endorsed a new art in public places strategic plan, which is set to guide the city’s artistic direction from 2023 to 2033.
The plan, put together by consultant Cobalt Connects, comes on the heels of a $331,700 federal grant secured by the Orillia Museum of Art and History.
The grant also helped fund a new series of public art installations, the first of which was unveiled earlier this week.
After consultation with residents, youth, and local artists, as well as a city policy review and a comparison to similar municipalities, Cobalt Connects presented the strategic plan to council at its Monday meeting.
“We’ve identified 38 sites, both in downtown, West Ridge, waterfront, and a number of other (areas) where there are key opportunities for public art,” said Jeremy Freiburger, executive director at Cobalt Connects.
“Natural spaces, parks, trails, and the waterfront were brought up more in your public art process than in any other I’ve been a part of, so your public really sees an opportunity to bring art and culture into those spaces in a tasteful way.”
The plan aims to not only beautify public spaces in Orillia, but also drive economic growth through tourism and establish a thriving creative economy, city staff noted in a report.
Freiburger said a key component of the plan is ensuring adequate public engagement throughout the process.
“There needs to be multiple opportunities for members of your community to have their voice heard in the process … so that the likelihood of your community embracing and gravitating towards supporting public art is very strong,” he said.
Ensuring local artists and the local arts economy are given opportunities to grow is another cornerstone of the plan, he said.
“We held two sessions with local artists to better understand their skill sets, their interests … in the world of public art so that we could tailor a plan that would actually drive their careers and help local artists be the voice of vision in public art,” he said.
Potential ways of supporting local artists, noted in the plan, include hosting a local artist mural program, learning sessions geared toward drafting successful proposals and budgets, creating artist residency programs, and more.
The plan states years 1 to 3 will require an investment of roughly $37,500 to $65,000 per year, noting a variety of potential funding sources, such as the municipal accommodation tax, funding projects through the capital budget, and allocating a percentage of the construction budget to art, among other options.
The plan seeks to evenly distribute art at sites throughout Orillia that reflect the cultures, landscape, and history of the city, and it also includes plans to consult with the Chippewas of Rama First Nation to create art that explores truth and reconciliation.
Coun. Ralph Cipolla voiced his support for the plan but questioned whether any thought was given to preventing vandalism.
“My only concern is graffiti and damage to it,” he said. “I think Barrie experienced quite a bit of it with their art in public places.”
City staff responded the art it’s commissioning at this time is requested to be “anti-graffiti coated,” which ensures it can be cleaned and repaired.
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.
