Art

Fort McMurray group activates art in campaign against gender-based violence

Published

2 years ago

November 13, 2022

A non-profit organization in Fort McMurray is aiming to raise awareness about gender-based violence by taking part in an international campaign called 16 Days of Activism.

The annual campaign kicks off on Nov. 25, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women.

Sundas Shamshad, interim executive director of Girls Inc. of Northern Alberta, said 16 Days teaches girls about self-respect and confidence, and how to see themselves reflected in positive role models.

There will be two workshops in Fort McMurray — one about defining gender-based violence and another about supporting survivors and creating awareness about the issue.

“Sometimes people think it’s normal to, for example, being catcalled when you’re walking down the street … just to be mindful of those things and say, ‘No, that’s not acceptable,'” Shamshad said.

The campaign includes an art exhibit that will be shown in the front entrance to MacDonald Island Park, and a radio campaign to tell people about 16 Days of Activism.

Several submissions for the art exhibit have already been received. Shamshad emphasized that the exhibit is not only for children, and she wants to encourage adults to participate as well.

“The idea is to just spark a conversation,” Shamshad said. She said she wants women to feel empowered to recognize when a situation isn’t right or safe.

Holly Hashimi, a volunteer with Girls Inc., was one of the keynote speakers for 16 Days of Activism in 2021.

She said that when she was working in Fort McMurray years ago, she was attacked in a public washroom. A man came in and attacked her, punching and kicking, she said. She started screaming as loud as she could.

Several pieces have been submitted for the art exhibition, and submissions are accepted until Nov. 18. (Jamie Malbeuf/CBC)

“Unfortunately no one heard me, but it was enough to scare him away,” Hashimi said. The man was never caught.

She used her experience to help others, volunteering for victim’s services and Girls Inc.

She wanted to share her experience with young people so they can protect themselves and understand what victims go through.

When she was attacked, she didn’t know anyone else who had gone through anything similar.

“I wanted them to know … it could happen to anyone. It does happen,” Hashimi said. She shared tips on how to support someone who has gone through a traumatic experience.

“The programming is so important for young girls to understand their worth,” she said.

Her presentation last year was the first time she spoke publicly about being attacked.

“It was part of my healing process,” Hashimi said. “I started as a victim just in the darkest part of my life and I didn’t see any way out. And now I can talk about it. I can use it to help others.”

Holly Hashimi wanted to share the story of her attack to help empower girls, and teach them about how to help victims. (Jamie Malbeuf/CBC)

Gabriella Tobin, 8, is one of the artists sharing her work in the exhibition. She made a mixed-media picture to highlight the plight of missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls.

She’s excited to have her artwork displayed at MacDonald Island, where thousands of people will get to see it.

“I just wanted to just do a little to show everyone what I can do, because I really like drawing,” Gabriella said.

“I’m hoping to see everyone … just look at it and think for a little bit. For a moment.”

She said she wants her art to make people to stop and think about violence affecting Indigenous women and girls.

Gabriella — who is Indigenous — said she thinks about how she would feel if anything happened to her mom or siblings.

The art exhibition will launch on Nov. 25, with submissions accepted until Nov. 18.

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Art

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

Published

4 weeks 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

1 month 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.