Art

Cycling, art, mines and vineyards in Belgium’s Limburg province

Published

1 year ago

August 31, 2023

It feels strange to be cycling along a sunken path, my head at the same level as the ducks and swans swimming on the still waters of the pond beyond the walls. But Cycling Through Water, part of a biking trail in the Bokrijk forest, is another surprise on a trip to Belgium’s Limburg province.

Close to the border with the Netherlands, this unspoilt area is less than two hours’ drive from Brussels. Soon after picking up a car at Brussels Midi, I’m driving through luxuriant countryside passing dense woodland, cornfields and shaded lakes. With about 1,250 miles (2,000km) of paved, mostly car-free trails, Limburg is a paradise for bike enthusiasts – and easily navigable thanks to a clearly numbered junction system on its innovative cycle network. Difficult even for amateurs like me to get lost.

Peaceful countryside on the way to Limburg.

I check into Park Molenheide, a campsite with a small area for tents, caravans or campers and a wide selection of comfortable self-catering chalets, well spaced out under pine trees. The clientele is mainly cyclists and families (it’s particularly popular with the Dutch). There’s lots for children: giant indoor swimming pools, a fantasy adventure park, mini golf and fishing. For cyclists, Molenheide is a great base, with bike hire onsite.

The next day I start by hitting the path through De Wijers, a sprawling wetlands nature reserve with more than 1,000 tiny ponds and lakes. Near Zonhoven, a network of narrow paths wind past the water, and I discover a look-out tower for birdwatching. I head on through oak and fir trees and continue for another half-hour to De Plas, a long sandy beach by a tree-fringed lake, totally untouched by tourism apart from a simple bar serving ice-cold beers, chips and waffles. It’s a perfect place to relax before a leisurely cycle back to camp.

While the campsite’s restaurants offer mainly comfort cuisine – big portions of moules-frites or hearty plates of pasta – I discover some great foodie locales nearby. Just off the main road leading to the town of Hasselt, Ter Dolen is a craft brewery and beer garden in the courtyard of a 16th-century castle, serving tasty plates of cheeses and charcuterie, perfectly paired with tangy Kriek ale, made from cherries grown in the area’s famous fruit orchards.

A 10-minute cycle from camp is Restaurant Enfin, a surprising 20-seater dining room, where chef Benny Dreesen’s small seasonal menus feature Flemish ingredients such as locally grown vegetables, venison and beef, and fresh sole and cod from the North Sea. Less than half an hour’s drive away, Brasserie ’t Stasjon is an old train station converted into a fun diner serving salads and burgers, rich beef carbonnade stew or delicious spareribs. ’T Stasjon is also an entrance point to the vast Hoge Kempen national park, another great option for cyclists. I chat to one, Stefano Farraci, who’s taking a breather on a 50km (31 miles) ride. “My friends and I often rent a house here for a week of cycling. Limburg is very different from the rest of Flanders: few tourists, and amazing bike trails though stunning landscapes.”

Artworks at Koen Vanmechelen’s Labiomista.

But Limburg is not just about cycling. South of the campsite towards the town of Genk – pronounced “Henk” – the bucolic scene is broken by the stark winding towers of former coalmines, soaring high above the trees. At the beginning of the last century, Limburg had a flourishing coal industry. The mines finally closed in the late 1980s, but two sites have been transformed into remarkable creative centres. C-Mine (which stands for Creative Mine), lies a couple of miles north-west of Genk. Its 60-metre towers and massive redbrick buildings have been transformed into a hybrid venue hosting artist residences, student workshops, creative start-ups, a school of contemporary art, dance, cinema and temporary exhibitions. The mine can still be visited (Tues-Sun, €10/€6), with animations, holograms and sound bringing the space to life, as can the top of the tower, for views across the countryside.

A couple of miles away is Labiomista, another artistic initiative in a former colliery. Genk’s progressive mayor, Wim Dries, offered the site to controversial artist Koen Vanmechelen, who is known for projects featuring taxidermy and glass. A vast park filled with animals and 70 of his giant sculptures is open from April to November each year (Tues-Sun, €10/€6), and Koen’s huge studio exhibition space is opened to the public once or twice a year. It’s a weird and wonderful collection: artworks include a stuffed goat with a unicorn coming out of its forehead.

Limburg reserves a last surprise on the drive back to Brussels: a wine-tasting detour to the sleepy hamlet of Helshoven. This was traditionally a fruit growing region, but a young generation of Limburgers are planting vineyards as climate change sees winemaking spread throughout Belgium. At Domaine Helshoven, an 18th-century manor house surrounded by vines, Jeroen Houten makes tipples from chardonnay to fashionable orange wines, apple and pear bubblies and even a craft gin. There’s camping and glamping on site in wine barrel-shaped cabins (from €90 a night for two). Sounds like the perfect place to stay, next time round.

The trip was provided by VisitLimburg. Two nights in a four-person bungalow at Parc Molenheide costs from €229 in September. Bike rental €15 a day or €32 for 3 days

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Art

A misspelled memorial to the Brontë sisters gets its dots back at last

Published

4 days ago

September 26, 2024

Anne Joseph

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.

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Art

Calvin Lucyshyn: Vancouver Island Art Dealer Faces Fraud Charges After Police Seize Millions in Artwork

Published

2 weeks ago

September 13, 2024

Harry Miller

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.