Art

Dinner meets art with Whistler's Alta Bistro and Audain museum – Vancouver Sun

Published

3 years ago

August 4, 2021

The food and art experience involves an art tour at the Audain Art Museum and an elevated dinner by Alta Bistro in Whistler.

Author of the article:

Mia Stainsby

Andy Warhol panzanella salad by Alta Bistro. jpg

Reviews and recommendations are unbiased and products are independently selected. Postmedia may earn an affiliate commission from purchases made through links on this page.

Alta + Audain Fine Dining Art Experience

Where: Audain Art Museum, 4350 Blackcomb Way, Whistler

When: Every Friday evening to Sept. 3

Info: audainartmuseum.com/alta (marketing@audainartmuseum.com); and altabistro.com/audain (604-932-2582)

Food aspires to be art. Art, on the other hand, isn’t keen to be a foodie. But the Audain Art Museum in Whistler has a thing for Alta Bistro, inviting the restaurant to its breathtaking property for dinner every Friday evening.

This summertime romance involves an haute four-course dinner inspired by artists and a “sampler” tour of the museum, as director and chief curator Curtis Collins describes it.

This year, the event has become very price-friendly, with the menu whittled down to four courses from the previous six. Collins is one of two tour guides introducing the B.C. art, and he also visits diners during the meal (groups are staggered for tours and dinner).

I was touched by the tour as it features a number of historic and contemporary First Nations items. And in this time of reckoning over residential school horrors, the art opens doors to thousands of years of First Nations culture. The most stunning of the works is a wall-sized contemporary carving — The Dance Screen (The Scream Too) by Haida chief and sculptor James Hart — a plaintive howl against the current-day plight of salmon, which has been central to Haida culture.

The Dance Screen (The Scream Too) by Haida chief and sculptor James Hart. jpg

The museum, small in scale and big on drama and intimacy, somehow amplifies the voice of art. “As a boutique museum, our strengths are in carvings, paintings by artists such as Emily Carr and Jack Shadbolt, photo-based art by Jeff Wall, Stan Douglas and Rodney Graham,” says Curtis. “These sampler tours are exactly that. They’re a taster to get you back. Everyone who attends gets a free pass for that weekend, and hopefully they will return and take in the collection. The longer-term goal is that we become a regular stop.”

Better yet, it will trigger generosity. “We received an email today (from an attendee of the event) offering a major donation of a work of art,” he says.

After the tour, guests go outdoors, descending stairs to an open space under a floating portion of the building, framing a meadow and grove of trees. Alta Bistro chef and co-owner Nick Cassettari gets to display his haute skills, elevating locally driven bistro food with a touch of whimsy. “It’s an opportunity to have flair and exercise culinary inspiration,” he says.

He has cooked at Quay, one of Australia’s leading restaurants, and staged at Michelin-starred spots in Europe. In Whistler, he has cooked at Araxi and Nita Lake Lodge. I’ve always adored his spot-on bistro-style food and love to see his creativity unleashed. And if you ask me, the fresh, aromatic mountain air adds another layer of delicious.

Picasso-inspired dish by Alta Bistro. jpg

Picasso kicked off the dinner. “Toward the end of his life, he became quite a hypochondriac and only ate porridge, fish and vegetables,” says Cassettari. The dish gives us an upscale hypochondria: an arrangement of wild rice croquettes, halibut, grilled octopus with roasted grape escabeche and Pemberton crudités.

The second course conjures Andy Warhol with a panzanella salad do-over served in a Campbell’s soup can. Lift the can for the reveal: house-made bread, flattened, moulded into a tube, then dehydrated and baked. Inside this cracker-like cylinder sits a tomato salad. A server pours concentrated gazpacho dressing over it. “Who expects there to be a salad under the can. It took a tremendous amount of work to figure out,” Cassettari says. He adds a bit of tomato stem to the gazpacho. “It’s full of crazy aromatic oils. I bash up a little of it and throw it in the blender.” Good tip.

Next up: Vittore Carpaccio, an early Venetian Renaissance painter, the namesake for the thinly sliced raw meat. Chef made a gorgeous Wagyu beef carpaccio, served loosely over roasted and sliced forma nova beets (they’re long, not round shaped), smoked goat feta with wild blue spruce, and sour cherry vinaigrette. Carpaccio, the dish, was first served at Harry’s Bar in Venice to a countess whose doctor recommended she eat raw meat, and named after the artist who used a lot of reds and browns, the colours of raw meat.

Audain Art Museum director and chief curator Curtis Collins and Alta Bistro owner Eric Griffith. jpg

And for dessert, aJackson Pollock scribble of sauces over a plant-based cashew and vanilla mousse with an assertive circle of orange from a grilled peach half.

The dinners, which continue to Sept. 3, cost $99, and wine pairings can be ordered by the glass or paired with each course for $49. The menu will change with another roster of artist-inspired dishes on Aug. 13.

“Bookings are going really well,” says Alta Bistro co-owner Eric Griffith. “If you book last minute, you’re not going to get in.” In other words, you snooze, you lose.

SIDE DISHES

Some hearts grew bigger during the pandemic. Organic Ocean — a premium sustainable seafood supplier to discriminating, conservation-minded, high-end chefs locally and abroad — stepped up its charitable program just as restaurants and chefs had to cut back drastically on orders.

The company started an online retail store to sell product and keep employees and fishers employed. It turned out to be a hit. “After it was clear, online was going to be a permanent part of our business, we wanted to build in a social component. It’s part of our DNA,” says company president Guy Dean. “People think sustainability is associated with the environment. We think it’s more. It’s environment, economics and social.”

So the company created Neighbours Helping Neighbours, donating two meals worth of seafood for every online order received. (A typical order is about $200.) It has donated to The Vancouver Aquarium and the Kelty Patrick Dennehy Foundation which helps those with social and mental issues. As well, it has donated seafood to A Loving Spoonful, Union Gospel Mission, Goodly Foods Society, Growing Chefs, Squamish and Langley Food Banks, and The Stop Community Food Centre in Toronto. Since late December, they donated more than $15,000 worth of seafood, or 5,647 meals via A Loving Spoonful and The Stop Community Food Centre alone.

Now, they’ve made the charitable donations permanent, relaunching the program as Until We Are All Fed, donating seafood “for as long as it takes to end hunger in the community.” That, Dean says, appears it will be “in perpetuity.”

mia.stainsby@shaw.ca

twitter.com/miastainsby

instagram.com/miastainsby

vancouversun.com/tag/word-of-mouth-blog/

Adblock test (Why?)

Source link

Art

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

Published

6 days 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.

Art

Ukrainian sells art in Essex while stuck in a warzone – BBC.com

Published

2 weeks ago

September 2, 2024

Harry Miller

[unable to retrieve full-text content]

Ukrainian sells art in Essex while stuck in a warzone BBC.com

Source link

Art

Somerset House Fire: Courtauld Gallery Reopens, Rest of Landmark Closed

Published

1 month ago

August 18, 2024

Harry Miller

The Courtauld Gallery at Somerset House has reopened its doors to the public after a fire swept through the historic building in central London. While the gallery has resumed operations, the rest of the iconic site remains closed “until further notice.”

On Saturday, approximately 125 firefighters were called to the scene to battle the blaze, which sent smoke billowing across the city. Fortunately, the fire occurred in a part of the building not housing valuable artworks, and no injuries were reported. Authorities are still investigating the cause of the fire.

Despite the disruption, art lovers queued outside the gallery before it reopened at 10:00 BST on Sunday. One visitor expressed his relief, saying, “I was sad to see the fire, but I’m relieved the art is safe.”

The Clark family, visiting London from Washington state, USA, had a unique perspective on the incident. While sightseeing on the London Eye, they watched as firefighters tackled the flames. Paul Clark, accompanied by his wife Jiorgia and their four children, shared their concern for the safety of the artwork inside Somerset House. “It was sad to see,” Mr. Clark told the BBC. As a fan of Vincent Van Gogh, he was particularly relieved to learn that the painter’s famous Self-Portrait with Bandaged Ear had not been affected by the fire.

Blaze in the West Wing

The fire broke out around midday on Saturday in the west wing of Somerset House, a section of the building primarily used for offices and storage. Jonathan Reekie, director of Somerset House Trust, assured the public that “no valuable artefacts or artworks” were located in that part of the building. By Sunday, fire engines were still stationed outside as investigations into the fire’s origin continued.

About Somerset House

Located on the Strand in central London, Somerset House is a prominent arts venue with a rich history dating back to the Georgian era. Built on the site of a former Tudor palace, the complex is known for its iconic courtyard and is home to the Courtauld Gallery. The gallery houses a prestigious collection from the Samuel Courtauld Trust, showcasing masterpieces from the Middle Ages to the 20th century. Among the notable works are pieces by impressionist legends such as Edouard Manet, Claude Monet, Paul Cézanne, and Vincent Van Gogh.

Somerset House regularly hosts cultural exhibitions and public events, including its popular winter ice skating sessions in the courtyard. However, for now, the venue remains partially closed as authorities ensure the safety of the site following the fire.

Art lovers and the Somerset House community can take solace in knowing that the invaluable collection remains unharmed, and the Courtauld Gallery continues to welcome visitors, offering a reprieve amid the disruption.

Source link