VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) — Art is political: about morality and humanity, and we “should all be paying attention to human rights,” says Rahel Claman, a Vancouver-based dance instructor, lending her veteran skills to help LGBTQ+ refugees.
In many countries being gay or having a sexual or gender identity that others don’t accept can lead to threats varying from harassment to violent and deadly assaults.
“The fact that there still is discrimination, that there still are unsafe places for people who are different than others. I feel that it’s our obligation, especially if we have a platform as artists or as teachers or people who are working with groups of people, to be helping,” says Claman.
Coming to Canada can be a second chance at living openly and in a more safe and accepting environment, which is why the annual fundraiser, An Evening In Damascus raises money for Rainbow Refugee each year.
For 20 years, Rainbow Refugee has been supporting people seeking “protection in Canada because of persecution based on sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression (SOGIE) or HIV status.”
Claman has been involved in Middle Eastern and North African dancing for about 18 years and has dedicated her life to teaching others how to share in those arts in a way that is ethical and avoids cultural appropriation.
She has created a full-length performance that will be presented at An Evening In Damascus on July 24.
The event, which has raised more than $150,000 in five years of fundraising, will be going virtual for its sixth iteration.
“My partner and I spent two entire days, two full days filming at five different locations with multiple costumes. We’re spending this entire week editing the performances. It’s been an incredible amount of work, more than I’ve ever done for a life performance,” says Claman.
Each year, the money has gone directly to helping individuals and at least one family settle in Canada.
This year, would-be incoming refugees are stuck in potentially dangerous situations abroad, as in-person interviews and hearings have stopped amid COVID-19. Rainbow Refugee is supporting those who were in the process to come to Canada but are stuck in limbo in uncertain times.
According to Amnesty International “same-sex sexual activity is a crime in 70 countries, and can get you a death sentence in nine countries, including Iran, Saudi Arabia, Sudan and Yemen. And even where these restrictive laws are not actually enforced, their very existence reinforces prejudice against LGBTI people, leaving them feeling like they have no protection against harassment, blackmail and violence.”
Ethical art
Claman acknowledges she makes her living from dances that are from other cultures, including from Middle Eastern, Asian and African countries and she says she actively world to reciprocate and share her gains back to those communities while also teaching about cultural appropriation and the context of cultural exchange.
Instead of taking drop-in classes with Claman, students have to sign up for courses, which include mandatory lectures on being ethical and responsible dancers and giving back by supporting dance-professionals in those places.
“Anytime a student is going to perform, I am very clear with them that ‘you need to understand what the style is of this dance and what the meanings are, the lyrics. Are you dancing this appropriately and ethically for this specific style?’” she explains.
“I am very dedicated to going to Egypt and to other parts of the Middle East to train and to support dancers from those parts of the world,” says Claman, adding each year her and her partner host dancers from the Middle Eastern or North Africa, or dancers of color in Vancouver.
Claman is vocal about Black Lives Matter and other human rights causes saying she has a duty to speak up.
“I’m being extremely vocal and have been and will continue to be about my (I don’t want to call them) political views because I don’t feel like human rights are political, so ethical views, and using my platform.”
As a dancer, she finds most of her students are like-minded but occasionally someone who is perhaps a fan of Claman’s dancing and less familiar with her social justice work will find themselves in her bubble.
“And I use those classes to teach about issues of cultural appropriation and sensitivity and of inclusion and acceptance and body positivity. And right now, specifically, Black rights and civil rights issues,” she says.
You can see Rahel Claman perform her full set on July, 24 for An Evening In Damascus by purchasing tickets online. A VIP ticket includes a dinnertime delivery of delicious Syrian food prepared by Tayybeh.
You can also purchase a ticket for an LGBTQ+ newcomer or refugee to enjoy dinner and the show.
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NEWS 1130 is a media sponsor for An Evening in Damascus.
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.
