Art

New city hall art puts Indigenous past and future of Calgary on display – Calgary Herald

Published

3 years ago

December 17, 2021

Harry Miller

‘I want everybody to look at these and be proud, to be proud of where they are. We’re on Blackfoot territory’

Author of the article:

Madeline Smith

Blackfoot artist Kalum Teke Dan stands in front one of the three banners he created being installed on pillars in the atrium of Calgary City Hall on Thursday, December 16, 2021. The pieces titled Past, Present and Future portray the rich history of the land on which Calgary now sits and how all people are working to understand the wrongs of the past and provide a way forward for the future. Photo by Gavin Young/Postmedia

Vibrant images of Indigenous history and the future of reconciliation unfolded 30 feet down pillars in the city hall atrium Thursday.

Local muralist Kalum Teke Dan created the three images — together titled Past, Present, Future — to illustrate the history of the land that’s now called Calgary, and show how Indigenous ways and traditions are still alive.

Dan, a Blackfoot artist with roots in the Blood Tribe in southern Alberta, looked on as crews put the banners on display Thursday morning. His mother worked for the city for 30 years, he said, and now his art will be displayed just outside council chambers, a place he’s known well since he was a child.

“I want everybody to look at these and be proud, to be proud of where they are. We’re on Blackfoot territory,” he said. “We’re trying to show what we’re about. We are very proud people.”

The banners were commissioned as part of the city’s Indigenous place-keeping program. Dan’s art will be up for two years, and work from other Indigenous artists living in Calgary and the surrounding area will rotate through the municipal atrium in the future.

Three banners by Blackfoot artist, Kalum Teke Dan were installed in the Municipal Building Atrium.

The banners: Past, Present & Future, represent the history of our land, how we’re working to understand the wrongs of the past & towards a brighter future.https://t.co/NgGWh6o3J9 pic.twitter.com/k7PyxUuDuz

— City of Calgary (@cityofcalgary) December 16, 2021

City of Calgary Indigenous public art curator Jessica McMann said it’s important for people who live in Calgary to be exposed to Indigenous art, especially in an important venue such as city hall.

“This is a place of governance, and also many newcomers come into this building as well,” she said.

“It’s really important that everyone witnesses Indigenous artwork within this place. As well, it’s a step in reconciliation for everybody — people who work in the building but also all Calgarians who come visit this space.”

Dan’s project was in the works for a few years, from planning and organizing the concept to about three months of “solid painting” on a huge custom easel he worked on in his home studio. After the original acrylic on canvas paintings were done, the images were printed on the banners that are now on public display.

“Basically, through reconciliation I was just trying to show images of our past, our present and what is to come for our future,” he said.

The banner that represents the past shows how Indigenous people used to live along the rivers that run through Calgary, and the image of the present shows the Calgary Tower but also tells a story about how the city sits on Blackfoot land, Dan said.

“I chose the youth in the future because they are going to be our next leaders.”

Eagles also weave throughout the work, which Dan said represents strength.

“In these images, I have a lot of the eagle in there because the eagle is the guardian, the guide. It’s such a prominent image in our culture.”

masmith@postmedia.com
Twitter: @meksmith

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Art

A misspelled memorial to the Brontë sisters gets its dots back at last

Published

3 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.