After getting diagnosed with schizophrenia and living in Edmonton’s homeless shelters, it was through art Madeline LeBlanc was able to regain control of her life.
As a kid, LeBlanc was interested in becoming an artist. However, in high school she was dissuaded as her friends said artists make too little money and made too little difference in the world.
When she was 18, LeBlanc was kicked out of her childhood home. While trying to finish high school and working late nights at an arena, LeBlanc fell ill with psychosis, which was later diagnosed as a symptom of schizophrenia.
“I started talking to birds and believed I was on a mission to save the world,” LeBlanc said.
Sometimes she would spend all night walking the streets and sleeping in random places, even once a creek, looking for “clues” to complete her mission.
Eventually, she spent several months in an Alberta hospital for evaluation. LeBlanc — a former honour roll student — was finding it difficult to talk and write cohesively.
“My mind wasn’t the same,” she said. “I just kept with the art and it was something that I could do.”
Madeline LeBlanc takes flight after constructing large paper wings, fashioned from the 903 pages of her medical records. (Kaylah Bhimani of Kapkeo Creative )
Later, while attending the Youth Empowerment Support Services, a shelter in Edmonton, LeBlanc went into its art program. With some encouragement, LeBlanc eventually held an art show at the shelter.
“That kept my mind active and helped rehabilitate me,” she said on CBC Edmonton’s Radio Active.
“It gave me hope.”
She credits the program’s artist in residence Allison Tunis helping re-spark her passion.
It was the art programs at Youth Empowerment Support Services made LeBlanc realize a balanced future with art was possible. She credits the program’s artist in residence Allison Tunis (left) helping re-spark her passion. This is a photo of LeBlanc’s first art show. (Submitted by Madeline LeBlanc )
Now LeBlanc is getting her bachelor of fine arts from the University of Alberta. As she wanted to make larger scale art pieces, but could not afford the canvas or paint, LeBlanc started to use her own bed sheets and crayons.
“I like doing art that feels magical,” she said.
In an earlier project, LeBlanc constructed large paper wings, fashioned from the 903 pages of her medical records.
7:45Local artist showcased at 5 Artists 1 Love
5 Artists 1 Love is an annual event that showcases Black art and culture in Edmonton. We speak with artist Madi LeBlanc . 7:45
LeBlanc is one of the artists taking part in the 5 Artists 1 Love exhibit, which is an annual event at the Art Gallery of Alberta to promote Edmonton’s Black artistic community. This is the event’s 16th year.
Darren Jordan, curator of the exhibition, said LeBlanc was included as her work goes beyond traditional art.
“It’s unique and colourful,” he said.
“A perfect fit for us.”
The 5 Artists 1 Love exhibit runs at the Art Gallery of Alberta from Jan. 29 to April 3 and showcases five different Black artists from the Edmonton area.
Madeline LeBlanc turned to bedsheets and crayons as she could not afford canvas and paint. (Submitted by Madeline LeBlanc )
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.
