Londoner Rea Thomas was recognised for her “compelling” work made from shellfish waste
A designer who makes products out of prawn waste is among the winners of a prize for promising artists.
Rhea Thomas, who describes herself as a climate innovator, is one of five recipients of the Arts Foundation’s Futures Awards fellowship.
She won the regenerative design award for her fertilising seed trays, called Seasprout, which are made from prawn leftovers.
The winners were recognised in a ceremony at London’s Southbank Centre.
The foundation’s website said the award recognised “innovative” art by the “most promising artists in the UK at a pivotal moment in their careers”.
The body has been showcasing artists across different disciplines since the early 1990s, and the five awarded the top prize – all from London – will receive £10,000 each, with a further 15 shortlisted artists set to be given £1,000.
Arts Foundation/PA
Rhea Thomas won an award for her Seasprout packaging, which is made from prawn leftovers
Ms Thomas was also recognised for her food packaging material Shrimpak, which is made from chitosan – a sugar derived from the outer skeleton of shellfish.
The Royal College of Art and Imperial College London graduate, who lives and works in London as well as India, New York, and Japan, has previously been recognised by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation for her sustainable development work.
Jury member Mirella Di Lorenzo, professor of biochemical engineering at Bath University, called Ms Thomas’s work “compelling”.
“Rhea has a really strong understanding and was able to articulate very clearly the environmental and social benefits of her design interventions,” she said.
Tatiana Gorilovsky
Composer Daniel Casimir was one of the five winners
Londoners also scooped the other four top prizes – including Cherish Oteka for her short documentary film, composer Daniel Casimir for his jazz composition, Tatenda Shamiso for theatre writing and Rebecca Bellantoni for visual art.
Ms Oteka won a Bafta for best short film in 2022 for The Black Cop, about a former Metropolitan Police officer’s experience on the force, and finished shooting her first feature-length documentary about the Gay Games, which focuses on the athletes, artists, and advocates involved.
Jury member Clare Sillery, BBC head of commissioning for documentaries, said: “In Cherish Oteka I think we have found a compelling and visionary documentary filmmaker.
“We are thrilled to fuel Cherish’s focus and fire as an outstanding creative practitioner.”
Arts Foundation
Tatenda Shamiso in No ID, a performance about a Black transgender immigrant
Mr Shamiso won the emerging talent award at last year’s Evening Standard Theatre Awards for No ID, a performance about a Black transgender immigrant, and is working on two new plays while developing a television adaptation of his solo show.
Ms Bellantoni performed a rose-inspired performance at the Tate Britain in London and was the winner of the Womxn of Colour Art Award in 2022.
Director of The Arts Foundation, Mary Jane Edwards, said: “The creative ingenuity, determination and focus of the Arts Foundation Futures Awards fellows never ceases to amaze us.
“We have no doubt all the artists and fellows will have a significant impact on our shared cultural life.”
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.
