Art

Karl Lohnes: Stop making these mistakes when hanging art – Montreal Gazette

Published

3 years ago

March 26, 2022

I’ve got three decorating rules that will solve the mystery of how to show off your artwork with a successful installation.

Author of the article:

Karl Lohnes • Special to the Montreal Gazette

Correctly arranged artwork can make or break a room’s look. Whale Art Print, from $40, www.simons.ca

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If you’re redecorating this spring, hanging art will probably be on your to-do list, as it’s often the final finishing touch for a space.

A new piece of art can transform a room, offering an easy fix if you’re refreshing existing decor or inspiration if you’re redecorating from scratch. But for many, hanging art correctly is a challenge.

Common mistakes that I see include hanging artwork far too high, choosing art that is too small or large, and creating a messy arrangement when hanging a grouping. Luckily, I’ve got three decorating rules that will solve the mystery of how to show off your artwork with a successful installation.

The right height

The mistake: The No. 1 error I see is when artwork is installed far too high on a wall.

Designer rule: Never hang artwork in relationship to the height of the ceiling — always measure from the floor. When hanging a single painting on an empty wall, the middle of the artwork should be 66 to 70 inches (167.5 to 180 centimetres) from the floor. Hanging a few different pieces on that big wall? Don’t line up the bottoms of the art, hang at a centre level of 66 to 70 inches (167.5 to 180 cm).

When hanging artwork over a piece of furniture, such as a dresser or a fireplace mantle, the bottom of the art should be four to six inches (10 to 15 cm) from the top of the mantle or furniture. When hanging artwork over a sofa, six to eight inches (15 to 20 cm) from the top of the sofa to the bottom of the art always works perfectly. Your goal is to visually connect the art to the furniture, not make them look like they are floating away from each other.

Size matters

The mistake: Another error people make when hanging art is to choose works of art that are far too big or too small to hang over a particular piece of furniture. For instance, a tiny piece of art will be hung over a long sofa, leaving far too much empty wall space on both sides; or a giant painting is hung over a small dresser making the composition look top heavy.

Designer rule: A work of art should be approximately two-thirds the width of the furniture below it to create correct proportions. If you have a six-foot (1.8-metre) long sofa, the art above it should be about four feet wide. Got a five-foot (1.5-metre) wide queen headboard? Fill about 3 to 4 feet (0.9 to 1.2 metres) with art. That could translate as two or more pieces to get to about four feet (1.2 metres) or one large piece around that size.

Come together

The mistake: Many groupings of artwork I see, such as an arrangement of family photos, look like they’ve been built over time, but when you do this you risk creating a collection that looks haphazard and disorganized.

Designer rule: Always start by placing the largest or most dominant image in the centre of your grouping. This piece should be positioned about 66 to 72 inches (167.5 to 183 cm) from the floor. A general principle is that the further away additional works are from this central piece, the smaller they should be.

Also, place the lighter coloured art on top and the darker ones toward the bottom of your grouping. This will create a balanced look that isn’t top heavy. It’s always best to lay out all your photos on the floor first to create appropriate spacing between the pieces and to see how the composition works as a whole.

Do you have a decor dilemma or want to give feedback? You can follow and contact Karl on Instagram at Karl Lohnes.

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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.