Art

Indigenous art presented to Olds schools to promote truth and reconciliation

Published

2 years ago

October 23, 2022

OLDS — École Olds Elementary School (ÉOES) and Horizon School were the latest schools in the community to receive Indigenous art created to commemorate truth and reconciliation.

Both artworks were among about 10 that have been presented to — or will be presented to — local schools as well as other entities like the Pregnancy Care Centre, Olds Municipal Library, the Boys and Girls Club of Olds and Area and the TransCanada Theatre.

ÉOES and Horizon School received their works on Thursday, Oct. 13 from local UNESCO schools network co-ordinator Bev Toews and Debbie Collins of Mountain View Moccasin House Society.

ÉOES received a large, brightly coloured painting of a bear cub riding on its mother’s back in front of a lake and mountains, with a big moon overhead.

It was created by Jason Carter of the Little River Cree Nation who now lives in the Bow Valley.

Horizon School received a sculpture perhaps six inches high, believed to be carved from soapstone. It depicts two rearing bears interacting and was created by John Kawapik of Sanikiluaq, Nunavut.

Collins said the artwork was obtained via a grant received from Heritage Canada to commemorate Sept. 30 (Orange Shirt Day) and truth and reconciliation.

“We got some from Cree and Stoney and Blackfoot, Inuit, Metis and Dene,” she said.

Collins pegged the grant at about $10,000.

She said organizers had hoped to provide all the artwork closer to Sept. 30 but didn’t find out they were receiving the grant until about five weeks before that, forcing them to scramble to obtain those works.

“We chose pieces that are appropriate for student age groups and will cultivate respect for those who produced them,” Collins wrote in an email.

“Most pieces speak to the gift of family, relationship, community and the importance of belonging. The pieces were chosen for their vibrancy, as a reflection of the original vibrancy of the children whose lives were impacted or lost to the residential school system. Never again.

“The objective of this initiative is that members of the town of Olds and its surrounding rural areas can be moved towards greater understanding of the impacts of colonization and to take steps towards reconciliation and the establishment and increase of respectful relationships between peoples.

“Students and staff and community members are encouraged to remember the precious vibrancy inherent in all children every time they pass the artwork.”

ÉOES reception

As Toews took the protective plastic off of Carter’s painting in the school lobby, ÉOES principal Margo Nygard reacted.

“Oh that’s fantastic, it’s beautiful,” she said. “There aren’t even words.”

Several people walking by at the time agreed.

“Oh my God, that’s lovely,” one woman said. “Oh my God, look at the colour. Love it.”

“Oh, that’s pretty,” a man said. “Wow, I like it. Very nice.”

Nygard was asked for her thoughts about receiving the painting.

“I feel honoured,” Nygard said. “It’s a huge privilege for us to have something like this in our little elementary school.”

She joked about hanging it in her office — “you know, to keep it safe,” but anticipated it would be located in the school library.

Nygard said the painting will dovetail well with the school’s reconcili-action theme.

“Our reconciliation piece is reconcili-action so it goes throughout everything that we do in anything,” Nygard said.

“It’s not a ‘here’s a unit in social studies, it’s how we behave with one another and how we welcome anyone and everyone.”

Horizon School reception

Horizon School principal Melissa McEwen was thrilled to see the sculpture when it arrived in the school lobby.

“Oh, it’s so beautiful,” she said.

McEwen brought 10-year-old student Sawyer Strocher to officially receive it alongside her.

She told the Albertan that Strocher is of Cree heritage and enjoys participating in various aspects of that culture such as powwows.

After all the photos were taken, McEwen suggested to Strocher that he could help her decide the perfect place to display the sculpture.

Strocher said nothing, but did smile.

“He enjoyed fulfilling his role as an ambassador promoting indigenous education in our school,” McEwen wrote in an email later. “Thank you for including him.”

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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.