Art
Finding Refuge, and More, in the Arts
To the Editor:
Re “The Power of Art in a Political Age,” by David Brooks (column, March 5):
Like Mr. Brooks, I often feel that “I’m in a daily struggle not to become a shallower version of myself.” As a teenager, I lose track of my own thoughts in the flood of videos and headlines. Also like Mr. Brooks, I turn to art to quiet these imposing distractions.
However, I have found myself doubting whether art is worthwhile. Despite the wonder I feel when experiencing art, I often find myself questioning the merit of spending any time reveling in paintings or poems when I could be spending all my energy working at things that have a greater visible impact.
But then I remember, as Mr. Brooks has reminded me, that to experience art is to feel your aliveness in a tangible way. So thank you, Mr. Brooks, for reminding me that sometimes, as the poet Mary Oliver says, “You only have to let the soft animal of your body love what it loves” — that I can let myself love art and know it is a beautiful act in and of itself.
Grace Anne Jones
Santa Cruz, Calif.
To the Editor:
David Brooks cites the strong feelings we have when experiencing a profound and meaningful work of art. Therefore, as a lifelong arts administrator, I am always dismayed by the lack of respect and funding our field must grapple with on a daily basis.
The arts inspire love of learning, bring diverse groups of people together, are our greatest treasures housed in our most iconic buildings, and encourage tourism and the discovery of new places and traditions. Art endures from generation to generation to generation. Sounds like a worthy investment to me!
Karen Brooks Hopkins
Brooklyn
The writer is president emerita of the Brooklyn Academy of Music and senior adviser to the Onassis Foundation.
To the Editor:
David Brooks writes that “art teaches you to see the world through the eyes of another, often a person who sees more deeply than you do.”
Yes, absolutely — a poignant fact continually discovered by thoughtful and wise people throughout the ages.
The cultural critic John Ruskin wrote in 1885: “Great nations write their autobiographies in three manuscripts — the book of their deeds, the book of their words, and the book of their art. Not one of these books can be understood unless we read the two others; but of the three, the only trustworthy one is the last.”
The brilliant interviewer Terry Gross, in a 2015 profile in The New York Times Magazine, said she loved interviewing artists because they are ‘‘the people we designate to open up their lives for examination so we can understand better who we are.’’
We need art. Art shows us our strengths and our weaknesses. Art speaks truth to power.
Susan Calza
Montpelier, Vt.
The writer is a visual artist and gallery owner.
To the Editor:
Firsthand experience of art is an important antidote to the adverse effects of digital technology. It has the power to return those entranced by this technology to a palpable sense of knowing and understanding the world, others and self. The digital world has a grip on countless lives and contributes significantly to the politicization of culture.
But as an artist I must take issue with David Brooks’s implication that the arts are a way to, however briefly, escape the new technology and politics. Rather, the arts offer ways to engage with the world, imaginatively, intellectually, morally and sometimes politically. Art offers a way to experience our humanity in deeper and perhaps more comprehensive ways.
We need to be wary of digital technology and the wholesale politicization of life. But we cannot look to art as merely some safe haven.
Paul Forte
Wakefield, R.I.
To the Editor:
David Brooks’s column is deeply profound and moving. I hope to follow his advice and devote more attention to art and less to politics or digital distractions.
His invocation of Picasso’s “Guernica” had a special resonance for me. I am not particularly well informed about art, and was even less so in 1963 on my first visit to the Museum of Modern Art in New York City at age 21.
But I will never forget the emotional surge I felt on entering a room on the third floor and seeing “Guernica,” which I had not heard of before. It was a totally unexpected experience for a work of art to instantly arouse such intense feelings.
Philip Allen
Stony Brook, N.Y.
A Thumbs Down for the Term ‘Latinx’
To the Editor:
Re “Repudiation for Term ‘Latinx’ From Both Sides of the Aisle” (front page, March 2):
I am a college-educated Mexican American, and I strongly object to the term Latinx. Not one Mexican American I know — and I know a lot of them — uses this truly insulting term.
Most of us do not use this term and do not like it, and many of us are absolutely offended by it. Please do not use it to describe my people.
Anthony J. Mireles
Calumet City, Ill.
The writer is a historian and author.
To the Editor:
While I applaud the attempt to find a non-gender-specific way to refer to people of Spanish-speaking Latin American origin, Latinx is a poor choice.
How would anyone of any ethnic background like to be referred to with a word ending in an “x”? It’s insulting, and it isn’t a plural. As one friend put it, “It makes us sound like aliens from another planet.”
I happen to be a Spanish speaker, and when I have tried out the word Latines instead of Latinx on my friends in the Hispanic world, here and abroad, they have universally celebrated it as a way to be adequately non-gender-specific and not insulting. Let’s go for Latines!
Michael Rockland
Morristown, N.J.
The writer is emeritus professor of American studies at Rutgers University.
The Role of Disinformation in Asian Americans’ Rightward Shift
To the Editor:
Re “Where New York’s Asian Neighborhoods Shifted to the Right” (news article, nytimes.com, March 5):
Asian Americans are a critical, diverse and often overlooked voting bloc on the national stage. While multiple factors are at play in the rightward shift you write about, missing from the article is the role of disinformation on platforms like WhatsApp.
Often used by first- and second-generation Americans who still have family in other parts of the world, the app fomented confusion around the 2020 election (not unlike Facebook or Twitter), and surely still plays a role in informing voters, especially middle-aged and older ones.
Crime rates and “culture wars” may be influencing their votes, but where, how and from whom are they getting this information?
Manisha Sunil
Washington
Altering Art
To the Editor:
Re “The Truth About the ‘Censorship’ of Roald Dahl,” by Matthew Walther (Opinion guest essay, March 5):
Why does anyone have a right to alter an artist’s work? Besides the absurdity of imposing modern values on an earlier time, the practice shows a profound disrespect for artistic integrity.
It’s true that we would never have had the novels of Franz Kafka had Max Brod not disregarded the author’s wishes to have his manuscripts burned upon his death.
That aside, no one — however well intentioned — is entitled to change a writer’s creation once the writer is no longer able to speak for, in Dahl’s case, himself.
Bruce Weinstein
New York
Art
Calvin Lucyshyn: Vancouver Island Art Dealer Faces Fraud Charges After Police Seize Millions in Artwork
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.
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Ukrainian sells art in Essex while stuck in a warzone BBC.com
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The Courtauld Gallery at Somerset House has reopened its doors to the public after a fire swept through the historic building in central London. While the gallery has resumed operations, the rest of the iconic site remains closed “until further notice.”
On Saturday, approximately 125 firefighters were called to the scene to battle the blaze, which sent smoke billowing across the city. Fortunately, the fire occurred in a part of the building not housing valuable artworks, and no injuries were reported. Authorities are still investigating the cause of the fire.
Despite the disruption, art lovers queued outside the gallery before it reopened at 10:00 BST on Sunday. One visitor expressed his relief, saying, “I was sad to see the fire, but I’m relieved the art is safe.”
The Clark family, visiting London from Washington state, USA, had a unique perspective on the incident. While sightseeing on the London Eye, they watched as firefighters tackled the flames. Paul Clark, accompanied by his wife Jiorgia and their four children, shared their concern for the safety of the artwork inside Somerset House. “It was sad to see,” Mr. Clark told the BBC. As a fan of Vincent Van Gogh, he was particularly relieved to learn that the painter’s famous Self-Portrait with Bandaged Ear had not been affected by the fire.
Blaze in the West Wing
The fire broke out around midday on Saturday in the west wing of Somerset House, a section of the building primarily used for offices and storage. Jonathan Reekie, director of Somerset House Trust, assured the public that “no valuable artefacts or artworks” were located in that part of the building. By Sunday, fire engines were still stationed outside as investigations into the fire’s origin continued.
About Somerset House
Located on the Strand in central London, Somerset House is a prominent arts venue with a rich history dating back to the Georgian era. Built on the site of a former Tudor palace, the complex is known for its iconic courtyard and is home to the Courtauld Gallery. The gallery houses a prestigious collection from the Samuel Courtauld Trust, showcasing masterpieces from the Middle Ages to the 20th century. Among the notable works are pieces by impressionist legends such as Edouard Manet, Claude Monet, Paul Cézanne, and Vincent Van Gogh.
Somerset House regularly hosts cultural exhibitions and public events, including its popular winter ice skating sessions in the courtyard. However, for now, the venue remains partially closed as authorities ensure the safety of the site following the fire.
Art lovers and the Somerset House community can take solace in knowing that the invaluable collection remains unharmed, and the Courtauld Gallery continues to welcome visitors, offering a reprieve amid the disruption.
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