Art

Discover the Blue Cabin where heritage meets contemporary art – Richmond News

Published

2 years ago

May 23, 2022

Blue Cabin, a mobile artist studio, will join Richmond’s Doors Open taking place June 4 and 5.

Since the Blue Cabin floated to its new home in the Steveston Village earlier this year, people walking up and down the boardwalk have been curious about this mysterious artist’s studio that sits quietly at Imperial Landing.

Although mostly designated for artists to work in, the Blue Cabin welcomes local community members to participate in open houses, talks and workshops to learn about the region’s foreshore history and the communities connected to it.

“We want to be able to connect with audiences in Richmond and let them come in and see the space and hear the story,” said the Blue Cabin’s Managing Director Anthony Meza-Wilson.

“The story is quite rich, there’s a lot of facets to it,” Wilson said, looking at the patina-colour painting on the interior walls, which is authentic to the time period that the cabin was designed.

The current artist in residence Debra Sparrow, a Musqueam weaver, will be demonstrating her weaving projects during Doors Open, hoping to show audiences the beauty and integrity of her people’s history through her art.

“It is not art as you know it, but a way of life as we know it,” Debra said.

This coming Sunday, she will be holding an art event with artist Donna Grant to teach audiences how to make traditional Musqueam fishing nets from cedar sinew and tell the history of net building and fishing in the area.

“It’s a great experience to be here, because it’s where my people were, and still are. But they’re not visible,” she said.

Since its first artist-in-residence program Weaving on the Foreshore, which featured first nations textile artists, the Blue Cabin has been working on facilitating conversations and cross-cultural exchanges on the environment, foreshore histories, indigenous arts, and present-day issues.

During the COVID lockdown, the Blue Cabin moved its events online to continue connecting with audiences.

As COVID restrictions ease, Doors Open offers opportunities for in-person tours and activities, allowing the connection to be more “personal.”

As a floating structure, the Blue Cabin provides artists and the public with a new way to look at the city – from the water.

“Sometimes I’ve stayed in the evening when the sun’s going down, and just to be here and watch the water and the sun together,” said Debra. “I don’t know if I want to leave.”

As a mobile artist’s studio, the Blue Cabin moves around the Lower Mainland region, allowing artists to learn about different areas along the waterfront and use that to inform their practice. It will stay in the Steveston Village until 2024.

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Art

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

Published

2 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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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.