Indigenous artists from across Ontario are taking part in a unique art show in Waterloo region this month.
The Neebing Art Fair is a first for the region and opened to the public on Saturday. In some Indigenous languages, the word “neebing” translates to “by the river.”
Indigenous peoples share a deep connection with water, said Autumn Smith, an Ojibway-Odawa artist from Magnetawan First Nation near Sudbury.
“Water is life in our culture,” she told CBC News. Smith’s work is part of the exhibition at Bingemans in Kitchener that runs until August 21.
Smith said she’s wanted to be an artist since she was six years old, and though she was met with resistance, she said this art show is a testament that you can succeed.
“It’s really important for me to do this show because we’re showing people that we are working artists, that this is what we do and that you can be a successful Indigenous artist,” she said.
These canvases of art created by Indigenous artists from Ontario are part of the Neebing Indigenous Art Fair at Bingemans. The art fair will be on until August 21. (Carmen Groleau/CBC)
The exhibition also features work from artists Tom Sinclair, Blake Angeconeb, Chief Ladybird and Kitchener’s Luke Swinson and Alanah Jewell Morningstar.
‘It’s sharing my family story’
Autumn Smith says this is one of her favourite paintings she created for the Neebing Indigenous Art Fair. It’s called Medicine Woman, and was inspired by traditional woodland paintings. (Carmen Groleau/CBC)
Smith and Sinclair, who is Ojibway from Couchiching First Nation originally from Thunrder Bay, collaborated on a piece together for the art show. They created a painting that tells the story of the first two grandmothers of Ojibway, Anishnaabe people.
“They were the first two people to arrive in Turtle Island,” Sinclair explained.
“They were looking for people, but they couldn’t find anyone. One woman took a bear for a husband and the other stayed alone and this is the story of that.”
Sinclair and Smith say the exhibit goes far beyond showcasing Indigenous artwork. It’s also about sharing Indigenous culture and teachings.
“I grew up my whole life thinking everyone knew what this stuff meant and knew how to make pictograph paint and knew how to interpret the symbols and that everyone knew those stories and as I started painting, I realized nobody did,” he said.
“Being able to share those things, it means so much more than anything that could come from this. It’s sharing my culture. It’s sharing my family story.”
Incorporating augmented reality
The Neebing Indigenous Art Fair is the first Indigenous art show of its kind in Waterloo region. These are some of the work done by Ojibway artists Tom Sinclair. (Carmen Groleau/CBC)
A big part of the exhibit involves connecting art with augmented reality to help people understand the meaning behind the paintings.
“It’s a new thing. We’ve never done this before and it’s going to be a new way for people to experience our art work and the way that it moves,” Smith said.
Using video, photos and audio, artists are able to tell the stories of images they depict in their work, she said.
“We’re all on social media and we post pictures of our paintings online all the time, but we don’t always get to explain what these things mean, the cultural significance of things,” Smith said.
The augmented reality component means they can work with anyone online, Sinclair adds.
“People who won’t be able to come to experience it in person, will be able to experience it online digitally,” he said.
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.
