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Actor Pedro Pascal turned up at a Pedro Pascal-themed art exhibition in Kent, and couldn’t get in.
Artist Heidi Gentle Burrell, 45, opened her show – ‘ADHD Hyper Fixation and why it looks like I love Pedro Pascal’ – in Margate in June.
Incredibly, the Narcos and Mandolorian star then turned up at the Rhodes Gallery at the weekend – but couldn’t get in as it was shut.
Heidi sadly wasn’t there to meet Pascal, who turned up with fellow actor Russell Tovey and artist and former musician Robert Diament.
But she says she’s thrilled he is aware of the exhibition.
Heidi, a full-time artist from Wickford, Essex, said: “It was absolutely fantastic. Although I can imagine he’s slightly embarrassed, with all the art being about him!
“I’m gutted he showed up on a Sunday when the gallery was closed. I’d love for Robert to bring him along when we’re actually open.”
Heidi had heard from a superfan who came to the exhibition preview that Pedro was filming in Morocco at the time.
But on Sunday (August 6), Pedro went to view the exhibition – only to find it was closed for the day. So they took a photo outside and Robert posted it on Instagram yesterday (August 7) – which is how Heidi found out.
“It was absolutely nuts,” she said. “So many lovely people have messaged me in the last couple of days. I completely understand why Robert didn’t tell me he was going with Pedro, they want their privacy.
“But I’m a bit gutted I missed them! It’s fantastic for me, though, hopefully it’ll elevate the conversation around neurodivergence. I feel like I’m helping to create a positive change.”
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Heidi first went full-time with her art during summer 2020 and uses it as a means of expressing her “self-diagnosed” ADHD.
She paints her hyper fixations, which are all centred around pop culture. Her previous muses have included Bert and Ernie from Sesame Street and the entire cast of the BBC’s ‘Ghosts’.
But this year, her fixation on Pedro came to a head, and she started creating art of him in various mediumsm including painting, mirrorimaging and Photoshop.
Heidi said: “I used to watch him in Buffy the Vampire Slayer and lots of crime dramas, which I always thought he was really good in. The first film I saw him in was called Bloodsucking Bosses, but I loved him before he was famous, too.
“I just found he had a really interesting face, from an artistic point-of-view. He’s got two little bald patches in his beard and creases in his eyebrows and bridge of his nose.
“I wouldn’t call myself an obsessed fan, but I do hyper-fixate on capturing him in my art.”
Pedro Pascal
(Getty Images)
Heidi posted her Pedro paintings on Instagram, and it caught the attention of Jessica Rhodes-Robb, who runs the Rhodes Gallery.
She said: “She asked me if I’d be interested in doing a show – she was fantastic, gave me so much free rein to express my ADHD in a million different ways.
“I went to the gallery on June 2 to set everything up. As I was putting everything in the window, Robert Diament walked past!
“I’ve been following him and Russell Tovey on Instagram for ages, and I knew through their Talk Art podcast that they knew Pedro.
“He was incredibly lovely to talk to, and asked me when my exhibition was opening. I asked him to come along to the preview later, thinking – worst case scenario is he’ll say no.
“But, he showed up! He made a video and posted it on his Instagram, then joked about sending it to Pedro.”
The Rhodes Gallery posted a photo of Pedro, Russell and Robert outside the exhibition on social media, which was originally shared from Tovey’s account.
The caption said: “The ultimate event has officially happened! Pedro Pascal himself, Robert Diament and Russel Tovey taking selfies in front of Heidi’s show at our gallery. Wonderful and amazing. Thank you, thank you, thank you!”
The gallery confirmed it was shut when Pedro tried to visit, adding they “wished they were open at the time”.
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.
