Art

Public art mural brightens trailhead, delights walkers in Chilliwack – Chilliwack Progress

Published

5 years ago

March 11, 2020

A drab, grey retaining wall in an industrial part of town has become the canvas for one of Chilliwack’s newest completed pieces of public art.

The 345-foot long concrete lock block wall outside LSC Pre-Cast Systems Ltd. – at the corner of Lickman and Chilliwack Mountain roads – has been beautified with a bright green mural featuring fernlike swirls and three-dimensional circular shapes.

You can almost see the curled up fronds come to life and unfurl before your eyes as the 3D “spores” float across the wall.

“We left it totally open to murals or three-dimensional things, and when this proposal came, it was so excellent because it covers everything,” Sylvie Roussel-Janssens, president of LSC said.

She and her company put the call out for artists in May 2019, offering $5,000 to the chosen artist.

READ MORE: Artist proposals sought to beautify retaining wall in Chilliwack

Tracie Stewart of Abbotsford was picked. She work on the mural, on and off, for about five months. The piece was finished in December and is a combination of painting and cast concrete elements.

“It’s like spores, or bursts of atoms, or music notes,” Stewart said of the concrete half-spheres sprinkled throughout her piece.

Stewart’s work at LSC was kind of like an artist-in-residence project as she chatted with employees about how it would be constructed and how they could lend a hand.

Glen Lapierre, senior concrete technician, helped her with some of the casting. There are one or two metal bolts attached to each of the hundreds of 3D concrete half-spheres. Holes were drilled into the lock blocks and then the bolts were epoxied into the wall.

The mural is located at the trailhead of a not-so-well-known walkway called Lickman Ponds Trail, close to lots of greenery, animals and insects. When Stewart was painting, small salamanders would scurry out from the gaps between the lock blocks and bask in the sun near her.

“It was really neat. I’d be painting this curl and a salamander would come out and do a curl right below it,” she said.

Stewart describes the mural as “a celebration of life” and “the resilience of nature bursting out of the seams.”

The green energy radiating from the mural is like “heart energy shining through,” the artist said. She wants people to feel that energy when they walk past her work.

While Stewart was working on it, people walking along the trail expressed how happy they were with the mural and how pleased they were that a local business was doing something nice for the community.

“The whole point of this is to give an example of how relatively easy and inexpensive it can be for public art,” Roussel-Janssens said.

Because of the low height of the wall and since scaffolding was not needed to construct the mural, there were no safety issues. That also kept costs down because LSC didn’t have to rent equipment.

Stewart is also a registered horticulturalist. She designed and planted new landscaping in the corner of the property that borders the wall. The chosen plants and design mirror some of the mural elements with colour and shape.

“You keep seeing this really negative dialogue [about the cost of public art]… but there are many ways to do small projects either with private businesses doing it on their own, or a collaboration with the city,” Roussel-Janssens said.

The mural at LSC was done by the company itself – it was not funded by the city.

Roussel-Janssens hopes the business community takes note of this attempt to link community space and private space in a visual way.

“Public art does not have to be complicated and expensive,” Roussel-Janssens said, adding the more public art a city has, the better.

“I say sprinkle that stuff everywhere. [Start] small and watch it grow, just like these spores.”

Do you have something to add to this story, or something else we should report on?
Email: jenna.hauck@theprogress.com
Twitter: @PhotoJennalism

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Artist Tracie Stewart (left) and president of LSC Pre-Cast Systems Sylvie Roussel-Janssens stand beside the green mural located at the north end of Lickman Road. (Jenna Hauck/ The Progress)

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Calvin Lucyshyn: Vancouver Island Art Dealer Faces Fraud Charges After Police Seize Millions in Artwork

Published

4 days 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.

Art

Ukrainian sells art in Essex while stuck in a warzone – BBC.com

Published

2 weeks ago

September 2, 2024

Harry Miller

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Ukrainian sells art in Essex while stuck in a warzone BBC.com

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Somerset House Fire: Courtauld Gallery Reopens, Rest of Landmark Closed

Published

1 month ago

August 18, 2024

Harry Miller

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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