Michael Oleksyn/Daily Herald Artist Janelle Gosselin picked a piece of art called “Oh to Goh” from the wall after making a sale at the Kyla Artist Group Spring Celebration Show and Sale on Sunday.
The Kyla Artist Group held their first live art show and sale in two years on Sunday.
The Spring Celebration Art Show and Sale at Plaza 88 had the group return to a live show for the first time since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Annette Henbid, President and Treasurer for Kyla Arts Group, said they’ve focused on their website, kylaartistgroup.com, for the past two years, so it was nice to get back to in-person events.
“Typically, our main event is a fall show, (but) things seem to be just ramping up in the fall, so we will try a little bigger event in the spring here in town,” Henbid said. “Our website has kept us at least involved somewhat through the COVID pandemic.”
Throughout the month of April, the website hosted a sale for founding members Jack and Linda Jensen who are moving to Toronto. Henbid said the sale generated plenty of interest, but still left the couple with just enough art to keep their home decorated.
Art group membership is still strong with members coming and going. They have a little under 20 right now, with some delays due to non-art related events.
“We have had a couple of things like hip replacement and things are slowing us down,” Henbid explained.
Henbid said they’ve always tried to do something different to separate the spring show from the fall. Typically, that involved hosting the spring event in Saskatoon or Elk Ridge Resort, but now they’re bringing it back to Prince Albert and hosting it in a unique space inside Plaza 88.
The Kyla Artist Group has been around for 40 years and has seen several members come and go.
“The Jensens were founding members, (and) Dennis Abernathy was a founding member,” Henbid said. “There is not much more that are actively painting with us anymore.”
The Show and Sale saw people pick out or pick up art which they had already purchased. That’s one of the biggest changes to the group’s first live show in two years.
“Frequently in the fall show, we used to say the art had to stay on the wall until the end of the evening. We are not doing it that way, just so that people can come and go as they feel safe,” Henbid said.
Henbid added that she hoped for a busy day, especially given the many people in attendance for the opening.
The event was put on with help from the Optimist Club of Prince Albert who presented the show and sale, along with acting as ticket takers and taking care of other aspects for the group.
“It’s just nice to partner with a charity group,” Henbid said. “The Kyla Group used to work with the Kiwanis Club and they have closed here in the city, so for about four years we have been partnering with the Optimists and they are a nice group to work with.”
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.
