Indigenous artists being featured at Art Toronto this weekend at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre say the amount and variety of Indigenous work at the art fair shows its diversity.
Over 60 galleries will be participating in the fair, with five galleries exclusively representing Indigenous creators and 22 galleries displaying works from various Indigenous artists. There will also be a virtual component online from Oct 29 to Nov 7.
One of the fair’s featured artists is Michael Nicoll Yahgulanaas, a Haida artist from British Columbia. He will be showing three works.
Two are examinations of classic Haida icons, mutli-coloured works on paper. The third work is from a series called Coppers from the Hood. They are made out of repurposed automobile hoods, covered in copper and decorated with Haida designs. The series has been exhibited in several places, including the British Museum in London, England.
“I think that a lot of work that comes out of the classic idiom, ‘Indigenous Art’ is our statement to a non-Indigenous audience,” he said.
“The reason why they’re statements is because of the Canadian history of relationships to Indigenous nations. It’s that lack of understanding that prevents us from really appreciating the deeper nuance of Indigenous art.”
Toronto artist has live performances
Maria Hupfield is a Toronto-based artist from Wasauksing First Nation who specializes in performance, sculpture and installations.
She will have a number of works in two different booths and will be using a jingle necklace that will assist her to “speak” during live performance “interventions.”
Maria Hupfield – Truth Machine _ Lie Detector, 2017. (Submitted by Galerie Hugues Charbonneau)
She said it was a natural progression for her to become an artist. Her parents met in art school.
“It’s always been a part of my reality,” she said.
“My dad was talking about Norval Morrisseau, my mom would paint. In my family, I have a lot of people that are artistic and talented . . . this is just part of everything that was around me in my life.”
Hupfield is also an assistant professor with University of Toronto at Mississauga where she runs the Indigenous Creations Studio.
Heiltsuk artist’s works inspired by heritage
A Heiltsuk artist from Waglisla (Bella Bella), B.C., now residing in Sechelt, Shawn Hunt said he grew up in a family of artists and is now carrying on the tradition in his own family.
“I never made a decision to become an artist,” he said.
“Now looking back at it, I realized I was an artist my whole life. Everything I created was art. That’s what I was into, I drew everyday, all day and continued to do that my whole life. I can see it in my kids now.”
Painting by Shawn Hunt using the formline style, shown at Art Toronto 2021. (Submitted by Shawn Hunt)
Hunt has two paintings and a sculpture included in this weekend’s art fair.
His paintings use what is called a formline style, which is a Northwest coast design principle. Hunt also adds different elements to each carving, making it even more multi-dimensional.
Sculpture by Shawn Hunt, shown at Art Toronto, 2021. (Submitted by Shawn Hunt)
“If you look out west here, the way our people lived, we had art on everything,” he said.
“Everything that we did had an element of art to it, so I mean, why wouldn’t we be good at this?”
Hunt said he hopes the fair helps to show the diversity and possibly dispel some myths about Indigenous people and their artwork.
“Above all it’s going to amplify our voices to have so much work out there.”
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.
