The House of PainT Festival of Urban Arts and Culture has brought together musicians, dancers, artists and community members for more than 16 years. Due to COVID-19, the usual summer celebration of all things hip hop won’t be taking place under the George Dunbar Bridge as it has in the past.
However, House of PainT’s General Manager Veronica Roy says the festival team is still working hard to share programming with the community during the pandemic.
“We don’t know when we will be able to have a festival again, but hip hop as an art form is nothing if not perseverant,” Roy said in an email interview.
Veronica Roy, House of PainT’s general manager, in front of the legal graffiti wall underneath the George Dunbar Bridge in 2019. (Kate Tenenhouse/CBC)
CBC Ottawa is a proud partner of the House of PainT Urban Arts Festival and last year, CBC Ottawa shared some of Roy’s favourite street art spots in the city. House of PainT took it to the next level this year by creating their own interactive map showing walking tour routes and destinations where you can find murals and graffiti.
Click on the markers below to learn more about a location on the map.
“We invite people to explore their communities and take photos of murals, graffiti and street art that they enjoy to send us for inclusion, so others can access these pieces on their own time to experience the artwork,” Roy said.
“For folks who are self-isolating or otherwise face barriers to exploring outdoor locations, the virtual experience of this map allows them to see public artwork they may lack physical access to.”
Share your photos
The map is meant to be an accessible community resource and it needs your help to improve and grow over time.
“There are far more pieces missing than have been included, so we are relying on locals to help us to build a comprehensive resource.”
Share your photos with CBC Ottawa and House of PainT on Instagram with the name of the artist and any other details you want us to know about the local art in your neighbourhood. Don’t forget to set your account to public and tag @cbcottawa and @houseofpaint, so we can find your photos.
A new mural by Kalkidan Assefa, Allan André and Jimmy Baptiste on Bank Street at Lisgar Street in July 2020. (David Richard/Radio-Canada)
Throughout the summer and fall, House of PainT is planning more adapted programming, including the Knowledge Conference for artist and community development in October, a graffiti colouring book featuring local artists, a poetry zine, new murals throughout the city and more.
“It’s important to us that we keep artists working and we deliver valuable hip hop programming to Ottawa/Gatineau that people can enjoy while putting their safety first.”
For more information about House of PainT, look for updates on their Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
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.
